Proof-of-work was originally proposed by Dwork and Naor in 1992 and has proved its powerfulness in Bitcoin as a decentralized mechanism for blockchain construction. Proof-of-work is the basis of most popular cryptocurrencies and smart contract systems, where participating miners are required to solve difficult mathematical problems to validate transactions. One of the major challenges that proof-of-work faces is the 51% attack, i.e., if an adversary controls more than half of the computation power, he/she can control the blockchain construction and determine which blocks will be included. This is not a major concern when the number of miners is large. However, for an early stage blockchain system with a limited number of users, it is relatively easy for an attacker to launch the 51% attack. To mitigate such risk, we propose a new hybrid blockchain construction scheme that uses the combination of proof-of-work and the stake, which is the number of coins produced by a miner, to determine whether this miner is allowed to construct a block. We prove that stakes play an important role in the hybrid scheme at the beginning, so that an attacker is not able to launch the 51% attack even if he/she controls the majority of the computational power. Meanwhile, the hybrid scheme will converge to pure proof-of-work after sufficiently many blocks are generated, and thus captures the desired properties of proof-of-work. Most importantly, such a convergence is "smooth" in the sense that neither changes in the rules nor parameters are introduced, and thus no hard/soft-forks will be triggered. We also demonstrate the effectiveness of the new scheme using simulations with different configurations, which can help a designer to select adequate parameters for a specific blockchain application.
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a business theoretical foundation for distributed
ledger technology (DLT) in supply chain management. This consists of describing the
theoretical impact of DLT on transaction cost economics, agency theory and network theory
from a SCM perspective.
Design/methodology/approach
We conduct five explorative case studies of five different DLT-based solutions that are
implemented in current supply chains. The authors interrogate DLT providers as well as
users. Based on the empirical data, the authors derive the impact on three major theories in
the field of supply chain management.
Findings
The paper reveals the theoretical impact of DLT on the above-mentioned theories in the field
of SCM. DLT-based solutions reduce the transaction costs and provides new options to
coordinate market solutions better than implied before. Furthermore, in contrast to
existing implications of network theory, DLT benefits from the size of the network as
they reduce the chances for opportunistic behavior and provide more transparency.
Research limitations/implications
The paper is based on findings of early stage applications of DLT in supply chain
management. Thus, theoretical impacts are expected to be added at an advanced stage.
However, at this point of time the article builds a theoretical foundation for future research
on DLT.
Practical implications
The identification of theoretical impacts helps to understand the practical value of DLT in
supply chain management.
Original/value
This is one of the first papers to add a theoretical foundation to DLT research in supply chain
management that is dominated by application-oriented contributions.
Jen-Hung Tseng, Yen-Chih Liao, Bin Chong, Shih-Wei Liao
As a trust machine, blockchain was recently introduced to the public to provide an immutable, consensus based and transparent system in the Fintech field. However, there are ongoing efforts to apply blockchain to other fields where trust and value are essential. In this paper, we suggest Gcoin blockchain as the base of the data flow of drugs to create transparent drug transaction data. Additionally, the regulation model of the drug supply chain could be altered from the inspection and examination only model to the surveillance net model, and every unit that is involved in the drug supply chain would be able to participate simultaneously to prevent counterfeit drugs and to protect public health, including patients.
Open-access blockchains based on proof-of-work protocols have gained tremendous popularity for their capabilities of providing decentralized tamper-proof ledgers and platforms for data-driven autonomous organization. Nevertheless, the proof-of-work based consensus protocols are vulnerable to cyber-attacks such as double-spending. In this paper, we propose a novel approach of cyber risk management for blockchain-based service. In particular, we adopt the cyber-insurance as an economic tool for neutralizing cyber risks due to attacks in blockchain networks. We consider a blockchain service market, which is composed of the infrastructure provider, the blockchain provider, the cyber-insurer, and the users. The blockchain provider purchases from the infrastructure provider, e.g., a cloud, the computing resources to maintain the blockchain consensus, and then offers blockchain services to the users. The blockchain provider strategizes its investment in the infrastructure and the service price charged to the users, in order to improve the security of the blockchain and thus optimize its profit. Meanwhile, the blockchain provider also purchases a cyber-insurance from the cyber-insurer to protect itself from the potential damage due to the attacks. In return, the cyber-insurer adjusts the insurance premium according to the perceived risk level of the blockchain service. Based on the assumption of rationality for the market entities, we model the interaction among the blockchain provider, the users, and the cyber-insurer as a two-level Stackelberg game. Namely, the blockchain provider and the cyber-insurer lead to set their pricing/investment strategies, and then the users follow to determine their demand of the blockchain service. Specifically, we consider the scenario of double-spending attacks and provide a series of analytical results about the Stackelberg equilibrium in the market game.
Maged M. Eljazzar, Mohamed Amr, Sally Kassem, Mohamed Ezzat
Technology has been playing a major role in our lives. One definition for technology is all the knowledge, products, processes, tools,methods and systems employed in the creation of goods or in providing services.This makes technological innovations raise the competitiveness between organizations that depend on supply chain and logistics in the global market. With increasing competitiveness, new challenges arise due to lack of information and assets tractability. This paper introduces three scenarios for solving these challenges using the Blockchain technology. In this work, Blockchain technology targets two main issues within the supply chain, namely, data transparency and resource sharing. These issues are reflected into the organizations strategies and plans.
In recent years, with the growth of international trade and development of economies, the volume of container throughput at China's ports has grown rapidly. Yet, the business process for the Less Container Load (LCL) transport industry in most ports of China still remain complicated and inefficient. In this article, the authors see numerous opportunities for process improvement by integrating the information among the various actors using the blockchain concept. In this paper, the authors propose to build a LCL Export Platform (LEP) using the blockchain concept to optimize the LCL operations for international trading, by integrating and sharing information among forwarder agencies and their clients.
Blockchain technology, popularized by Bitcoin cryptocurrency, is characterized as an open-source, decentralized, distributed database for storing transaction information. Rather than relying on centralized intermediaries (e.g., banks) this technology allows two parties to transact directly using duplicate, linked ledgers called blockchains. This makes transactions considerably more transparent than those provided by centralized systems. As a result, transactions are executed without relying on explicit trust [of a third party], but on the distributed trust based on the consensus of the network (i.e., other blockchain users). Applying this technology to improve supply chain transparency has many possibilities. Every product has a long and storied history. However, much of this history is presently obscured. Often, when negative practices are exposed, they quickly escalate to scandalous, and financially crippling proportions. There are many recent examples, such as the exposure of child labor upstream in the manufacturing process and the unethical use of rainforest resources. Blockchain may bring supply chain transparency to a new level, but presently academic and managerial adoption of blockchain technologies is limited by our understanding. To address this issue, this research uses the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and the concept of technology innovation adoption as a foundational framework for supply chain traceability. A conceptual model is developed and the research culminates with supply chain implications of blockchain that are inspired by theory and literature review.
Jan 1, 2018·Proceedings of the ... Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences/Proceedings of the Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences
Due to the disruptive role of the Bitcoin in the financial sector, both scholars and practitioners are increasingly wondering whether it is possible to replicate the impact of the Blockchain technology in the supply chain context. As a distributed ledger technology characterized by the decentralized consensus, Blockchain is touted by many as the proper platform to collect all the information about supply chains from the producer to the consumer. However, the current technology immaturity and the lack of successful supply chain implementations pave the way for doubt about the disruptive role of this technology in supply chains. To the authors’ knowledge, this work is one of the very first attempts to link the blockchain technology to supply chain and logistics. This paper investigates the state-of-the-art application of blockchain in supply chains, exploring both the literature and the industry initiatives, contributing to the increase of the managerial insight and providing a future research agenda.
Youness Tribis, Abdelali El Bouchti, Houssine Bouayad
Groundbreakingly, blockchain technology (BCT) has gained widespread acceptance and importance in the last few years. Implemented in different areas of applications such as social and legal industries, finance, smart property, and supply chain networks. This technology assures immutability and integrity of data without the need of a third trusted party. Furthermore, BCT could guarantee a transparent and decentralized transaction system in businesses and industries. Even though general research has been done in the BCT, however, there is a lack of systematic analysis on current research challenges regarding how BCT is effectively applicable in supply chain management (SCM). A systematic literature review (SLR) of SCM based on blockchain does not exist yet. This work aims to explore and analyse the state-ofthe-art on the BCT applications for SCM. We synthesize existing evidence, and identify gaps, available in the literature. The survey uses a systematic mapping study (SMS) method to examine 40 extracted primary studies from scientific databases.
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology (DLT) that has grown in prominence, although its full potential and possible downsides are not yet fully understood, especially with respect to Operations Management (OM). This manuscript contributes to filling in this gap. We identify three research themes in applying Blockchain technology to OM, illustrated through several applications to OM problems. Elsewhere, in a companion article, (Babich and Hilary (2018)), we provide a conceptual framework for the role of Blockchain and other DLT in OM, along with specific examples of research questions, and we demonstrate how research in economics can inform research in OM on Blockchain applications. Finally, we discuss possible future uses for the technology.
Roberto Casado‐Vara, Javier Prieto, Fernando De la Prieta, Juan M. Corchado
Current supply chain is a linear economy model that directly or indirectly fulfills supply needs. But this model has some disadvantages, such as the relationships between the members of the supply chain or the lack of information for the consumer about the origin of the products. In this paper we propose a new model of supply chain via blockchain. This new model enables the concept of circular economy and eliminates many of the disadvantages of the current supply chain. In order to coordinate all the transactions that take place in the supply chain a multi-agent system is created for this paper.
The Blockchain technology can be defined as a distributed ledger database for recording transactions between parties verifiably and permanently. Blockchain emerged as a leading technology layer for financial applications. Nevertheless, in the past years, the attention of researchers and practitioners moved to the application of the Blockchain technologies to other domains. Recently, it represents the backbone of a new digital supply chain. Thanks to its capability of ensuring data immutability and public accessibility of data streams, Blockchain can increase the efficiency, reliability, and transparency of the overall supply chain, and optimize the inbound processes. The literature concerning Blockchain in non-financial applications mainly focused on the technological part and the Business Process Modeling, lacking in terms of standard methodology for designing a strategy to develop and validate the overall Blockchain solution and integrate it in the Business Strategy. Thus, this paper aims to overcome this lack. First, we integrate the current literature filling the lack concerning the digital strategy, creating a standard methodology to design Blockchain technology use cases, which are not related to finance applications. Second, we present the results of a use case in the fresh food delivery, showing the critical aspects of implementing a Blockchain solution. Moreover, the paper discusses how the Blockchain will help in reducing the logistics costs and in optimizing the operations and the research challenges.
Hubert Pun, Jayashankar M. Swaminathan, Pengwen Hou
Counterfeiting is a severe problem in many sectors. There are two types of counterfeits: non‐deceptive and deceptive. While both types are important business challenge, deceptive counterfeit has an additional negative impact—customers have a post‐purchase regret if they expect to purchase a real product but ended up with a fake. The focus of this study is on the setting that relates to deceptive counterfeits. Our paper is one of the first that examines the effectiveness of blockchain as a solution to a supply chain challenge. Specifically, the unique feature of blockchain that we model, which none of the traditional strategies studied in the literature is capable of, is that blockchain adoption changes the analysis from a deceptive counterfeit setting to a non‐deceptive counterfeit setting. We also consider government being a decision maker and customers' privacy concern from blockchain adoption, two features that are not examined in the existing literature. We consider a market with a manufacturer and a deceptive counterfeiter. The manufacturer can signal product authenticity either with blockchain technology or through pricing. The government can provide subsidy to encourage blockchain adoption. Blockchain should be used when the counterfeit quality is intermediate or when customers have intermediate distrust about products in the market. If government provides subsidy, blockchain can be more effective than differential pricing strategy in eliminating post‐purchase regret. Our results advocate for government providing subsidy because it benefits both customers and the society and could be a better approach than government enforcement efforts.
Purpose This paper aims to strive to close the current research gap pertaining to potential implications of the blockchain for supply chain management (SCM) by presenting a framework built on four established economic theories, namely, principal agent theory (PAT), transaction cost analysis (TCA), resource-based view (RBV) and network theory (NT). These theories can be used to derive research questions that are theory-based as well as relevant for the industry. This paper is intended to initiate and stimulate an academic discussion on the potential impact of the blockchain and introduces a framework for middle-range theorizing together with several research questions. Design/methodology/approach This paper builds on previous theories that are frequently used in SCM research and shows how they can be adapted to blockchain-related questions. Findings This paper introduces a framework for middle-range theorizing together with several research questions. Research limitations/implications The paper presents blockchain-related research questions derived from four frequently used theories, namely, PAT, TCA, RBV and (NT). These questions will guide future research pertaining to structural (PAT, TCA) and managerial issues (RBV, NT) and will foster middle-range theory development in SCM research. Practical implications Blockchain technology has the potential to significantly change SCM. Given the huge investments by industry, academic research is needed which investigates potential implications and supports companies. In this paper, various research questions are introduced that illustrate how the implications of blockchain on SCM can be investigated from different perspectives. Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, no academic papers are published in leading academic journals that investigate the relationship between SCM and blockchain from a theory-based perspective.