A decision framework for decentralised control of distributed processes: Is blockchain the only solution?

Publication Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

6-2019

Abstract

A typical example of a distributed process is trade finance where data and documents are transferred between multiple companies including importers, exporters, carriers and banks. Blockchain is seen as a potential decentralized technology that can be used to automate such distributed processes. However, there are also other competing technologies such as managed file transfers, messaging, and WebAPIs that may also be suitable for automating similar distributed processes. In this chapter, a decision framework is proposed to assist the solution architect in deciding the technology best suited to support decentralised control of a distributed business process where there are multiple companies involved. The framework takes as inputthe different areas of concern such as data, processing, governance and technical, the pros and cons of the technologies in addressing these areas of concerns and provides a method to analyse and highlight the best technology for any process in question. Two example processes, trade finance and price distribution are used to show the application of the framework.

Keywords

Decentralised control, Distributed process, MFT, Messaging, WebAPI, Blockchain, DLT, Business process

Discipline

Databases and Information Systems

Research Areas

Information Systems and Management

Publication

Architectures and Frameworks for Developing and Applying Blockchain Technology

Editor

Shi, Nansi

First Page

1

Last Page

27

ISBN

1522592571

Identifier

10.4018/978-1-5225-9257-0.ch001

Publisher

IGI Global

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-9257-0.ch001

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