Keeping up with fast evolving technology is a challenge that every business leader faces. As organisations start to wake up to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it’s becoming more important than ever to be able to utilise and exploit new digital platforms. With the simple aim of demystifying blockchain for business leaders, The Executive Guide to Blockchain offers a jargon-free explanation and framework to better understand blockchain technologies and their impact on organizations. Enabling any business leader with or without specific computing knowledge to reap the benefits of blockchain whilst understanding the limitations, this book will empower you to: Identify opportunities for blockchain in your own business sectors Understand smart contracts and their relationship with the law Create a blockchain strategy and business case Implement blockchain technologies and maximise their potential. Written by experts in non-technical language, this practical resource can be applied to any industry, and arm you with the knowledge needed to capture the possibilities of digital business.
Blockchain is a disruptive technology potentially impacting how economic transactions are recorded, stored, and verified. Despite such ramifications, there is a lack of literature discussing this from the accountant’s perspective. Through real-world cases this book distils an abstract technology to relatable experiences for business professionals.
Crypto prices and NFTs are hogging the headlines, but they are just the most visible components of a rapidly growing decentralized financial system (DeFi) that has the potential to significantly challenge how we buy, sell, and trade just about everything. Blockchain and cryptocurrency may seem like a new thing, but they have been around for over 10 years. The problem is that the world of crypto can be very confusing with all the jargon, acronyms, and other unfamiliar words. This book contains an overview of the entire ecosystem as well as deeper insights to help you think about the consequences (intended and unintended) of our transition into a decentralized, trustless, world.
The Organisation of Tomorrow presents a new model of doing business and explains how big data analytics, blockchain and artificial intelligence force us to rethink existing business models and develop organisations that will be ready for human-machine interactions. It also asks us to consider the impacts of these emerging information technologies on people and society. Big data analytics empowers consumers and employees. This can result in an open strategy and a better understanding of the changing environment. Blockchain enables peer-to-peer collaboration and trustless interactions governed by cryptography and smart contracts. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence allows for new and different levels of intensity and involvement among human and artificial actors. With that, new modes of organising are emerging: where technology facilitates collaboration between stakeholders; and where human-to-human interactions are increasingly replaced with human-to-machine and even machine-to-machine interactions. This book offers dozens of examples of industry leaders such as Walmart, Telstra, Alibaba, Microsoft and T-Mobile, before presenting the D2 + A2 model – a new model to help organisations datafy their business, distribute their data, analyse it for insights and automate processes and customer touchpoints to be ready for the data-driven and exponentially-changing society that is upon us This book offers governments, professional services, manufacturing, finance, retail and other industries a clear approach for how to develop products and services that are ready for the twenty-first century. It is a must-read for every organisation that wants to remain competitive in our fast-changing world.
What will you learn with this book? Why is everyone talking about blockchain? What is it all about? Wouldn’t it be great if there is something out there that can help you understand the latest trending technology - Blockchain in a relaxed manner with tons of graphics, which is even more fun than a barrel full of monkeys?! With this book Unblockchain, you will learn how blockchains are architected, what the main technology components are such as cryptography, hashing, applications as well as the constraints and limitations of blockchain.In this book we are going to cover in dept all the components of blockchains. We are going to understand how the hashing mechanisms work, what the cryptography role is, how transactions are signed and much more! We are also going to look at the blockchain use cases, understand the blockchain architecture and even deploy an Ethereum node and play around with the blockchain. I will help you to better understand when to use blockchain, the key concepts, the industry jargon and a lot of additional information that will help you interact with stakeholders in any blockchain project you may get involved in.No matter what your background is, you will be able to follow along with this book and do the hands-on! After this, you will for sure be able to get involved in any blockchain project and to show off your knowledge in front of your pals! Why does this book look so different? Based on cognitive science and learning theory researches, Unblockchain uses a visually rich format to engage with your mind, rather than using solely heavy boring text. You will also have a few hands-on that will help you understand the technology by trying it yourself! This multi-sensory book is designed to turn you into a blockchain expert!
The Pragmatic Guide to Driving Value and Disrupting Markets with Blockchain "Blockchain’s potential to transform businesses has generated a tremendous amount of excitement across industries. However, it can be difficult for decision makers to develop a practical approach to blockchain for their specific business requirements. By identifying and clearly describing the value of blockchain for enterprises, as well as the processes required to harness blockchain to achieve business objectives, Blockchain for Business presents a startlingly concise yet comprehensive roadmap for business leaders. This book is an excellent resource for anyone looking to leverage blockchain to transform their business." —Dr. Won-Pyo Hong, President & CEO of Samsung SDS “Much has been written about blockchain in the past few years: what it is and what it is not (at various levels of detail), as well as the technology’s long-term strategic value for companies, industries, and economies. However, what we’ve been missing is a practical, operational, ‘how to’ set of steps for creating, implementing, and operating a blockchain-based solution. This book aims to fill that gap. It’s an invaluable tool for anyone ready to take the plunge and start taking advantage of this remarkable technology.” —Irving Wladawsky-Berger, research affiliate, MIT; columnist, WSJ CIO Journal; VP Emeritus, IBM "I will never be able to adequately express how useful this book will be to my class. In addition the great chapters on cybersecurity, I loved the Integration Models, especially 'Coexistence with Systems of Record.' Legacy integration with Blockchain is a critical barrier, and you nailed it!" —Thomas Doty, JD, LLM - Adjunct Professor, University of New Hampshire Law Blockchain enables enterprises to reinvent processes and business models and to pursue radically disruptive applications. Blockchain for Business is a concise, accessible, and pragmatic guide to both the technology and the opportunities it creates. Authored by three experts from IBM’s Enterprise Blockchain practice, it introduces industry-specific and cross-industry use cases, and reviews best-practice approaches to planning and delivering blockchain projects. With a relentless focus on real-world business outcomes, the authors reveal what blockchain can do, what it can’t do yet, and where it’s headed. Understand five elements that make blockchain so disruptive: transparency, immutability, security, consensus, and smart contracts Explore key use cases: cross-border payments, food and drug safety, provenance, trade finance, clinical trials, land registries, and more See how trusted blockchain networks are facilitating entirely new business models Compare blockchain types: permissioned, permissionless, private, public, federated, and hybrid Anticipate key technical, business, regulatory, and governance challenges Build blockchain financial models, investment rubrics, and risk frameworks Organize and manage teams to transform blockchain plans into reality Whether you’re a senior decision maker, technical professional, customer, or investor, Blockchain for Business will help you cut through the hype and objectively assess blockchain’s potential in your business. Register your product for convenient access to downloads, updates, and/or corrections as they become available.
When you hear the word blockchain, what's your reaction? Do you think it's a fad that's been overhyped but will soon be forgotten? Or maybe you have a vague understanding of how the technology works, but you're unsure of how it will impact your life.Neither reaction is wrong. Blockchain and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are still in their infancy-but they will soon fuel a worldwide cultural and technological paradigm shift that will disrupt every major industry: finance, supply chain, film and arts distribution, digital rights, automotive, social media, data security, real estate, and more.In Bitcoin Pizza, Sam Radocchia offers an eye-opening exploration of what blockchain is and how it will radically change our world. Whether you're an executive looking to prepare your business for a decentralized future or a newcomer curious about the blockchain hype, this fun and relatable guide will give you the confidence to explore this technology in more detail by first showing you the big picture. Instead of looking at blockchain with trepidation, you'll come away thrilled by the possibilities.
The ultimate guide to the NFT revolution: How non-fungible tokens are poised to transform the digital world. Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, are the most important digital innovation since the creation of blockchain and cryptocurrency. NFTs share the best elements of both of these, while also representing an entirely new step forward for technology. But how did NFTs arise, how will they impact art and business in the decades to come, and—perhaps most importantly—how can savvy entrepreneurs position themselves today for success in the NFT-driven world of tomorrow? This guide by industry leader and entrepreneur Marc Beckman delves into the underpinnings of NFT technology in a way that makes the subject clear and comprehensible to the layman, while drawing on Marc’s branding experience to explore exactly how NFTs are poised to change fashion, sport, fine art, and even social justice. In this book he explores how NFTs will create entirely new asset classes and investment possibilities, such as fractional ownership in dynamic works of art. And in doing so, he also tells the story of how he personally discovered and became entranced by this powerful new tool, and where he believes NFTs will take business and branding throughout the 21st century.
"I'll walk you through the essentials of how Blockchain technology works, using simple explanations and giving examples along the way. I've introduced many people to blockchain, so I know where beginners usually get confused and the main questions they have. All of the basic principles are addressed step-by-step in this book." -- Provided by publisher.
Blockchain technology has captured the minds of business leaders, entrepreneurs, and policy wonks all over the world. Major media outlets report on the rise and fall of Bitcoin and Ethereum tokens daily. Billions of dollars are flowing into blockchain startups in some form. Large-scale cyber intrusions against crypto exchanges, newly smart machines with wallets, and even semi-autonomous supply chains are capturing the imaginations of enterprises everywhere. But, how well do you really understand the technology, economics and business of blockchain? In Basics of Blockchain, the authors combine decades of experience into a cohesive collegiate level guide to help you understand the technology at its most basic level, and internalize the economics and business of building companies in the era of decentralized computing. While the technology may sound complicated, the job for students and business leaders is understanding how to drive value and success by adopting Web 3 technologies like blockchain. The book features 6 Chapters, Key Terms, Questions & Discussion, a Glossary, hands-on code Tutorials, Slides, and Tests. Bettina Warburg is one of the 1st speakers on blockchain for TED and WIRED, reaching 5 mil+ viewers. Tom Serres is a Silicon Valley veteran and record-holder for the largest-ever online Series A back in 2012 for his first startup, Rally. He was named Forbes most promising CEO under 35. Together, they founded Warburg Serres - a boutique fund focused on blockchain and the decentralization of trade - and manage Animal Ventures, a research and advisory firm specializing in portfolio development, education, and prototyping. They are accomplished entrepreneurs, researchers, speakers, investors, and adjunct professors at UT at Austin. Bill Wagner has decades of experience in academia. He holds the position of Assoc. Chair of Accounting and Information Systems at Villanova University. He is an expert on MIS and course development covering topics on Enterprise Systems, Mobile Applications, Applied Artificial Intelligence, and Data Analytics. Bill received the Meyer award for Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship and the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship award for Excellence. This book covers the following concepts: Blockchain Fundamentals: From origins to the modern computing stack The Technology Behind Blockchain: Web 3 and the economy Bitcoin and Crypto-assets: CryptoKitties and ERC20 Tokens Ethereum and Smart Contracts: Tutorials, Virtual machines, and autonomous organizations Project Management and Use Cases: Lean prototyping methods and corporate Dapps The Future of Blockchain: Quantum-resistant blockchains, AI/ML, and society "Tom Serres is one of Silicon Valley''s best." -- Eric Ries, Founder of Long Term Stock Exchange & author of The Lean Startup and The Startup Way "Bettina and Tom are a rare combination of natural entrepreneurship, strong academic research, and a futuristic mindset. We consider them amazing thinkers and great thought-leaders in the blockchain space over the years." -- Fabian Vogelsteller (Inventor of the ERC20 Standard) & Marjorie Hernandez, Co-Founders of Lukso.io "Bettina''s talk about blockchain is one of the most insightful and clear explanations of this new technology that I''ve seen. The tech is abstract and exotic, but she makes it concrete and familiar." -- Kevin Kelly, founding Executive Editor of Wired Magazine and author of The Inevitable "Tom and Bettina are early pioneers in the world of Blockchain, and have been active participants in its transformation from a series of fringe ideas to mainstream adoption.They have been a huge help to growing the community at large." -- Dominic Williams, Founder of Dfinity
