Blockchain governance in the public sector: A conceptual framework for public management

Exploring the potential of blockchain technology for citizen engagement in smart governance

This review article explores the potential of blockchain technology (BCT) as a key enabler for fostering transparency, trust, and citizen engagement in smart governance within smart cities. By examining the benefits of BCT in various aspects of smart city systems, such as data security and privacy, the paper highlights the advantages of implementing consortium blockchain architecture and the Proof of Authority (PoA) consensus algorithm and discusses the challenges of scalability and security concerns. Based on the literature showed in this article, we believe that the use of BCT in smart governance could significantly enhance citizen participation and help manage and deliver public services, paving the way for more effective decision-making processes and improved quality of life for citizens.

Patient Health Record Protection Beyond the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act: Mixed Methods Study

BACKGROUND

The security and privacy of health care information are crucial for maintaining the societal value of health care as a public good. However, governance over electronic health care data has proven inefficient, despite robust enforcement efforts. Both federal (HIPAA [Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act]) and state regulations, along with the ombudsman rule, have not effectively reduced the frequency or impact of data breaches in the US health care system. While legal frameworks have bolstered data security, recent years have seen a concerning increase in breach incidents. This paper investigates common breach types and proposes best practices derived from the data as potential solutions.

OBJECTIVE

The primary aim of this study is to analyze health care and hospital breach data, comparing it against HIPAA compliance levels across states (spatial analysis) and the impact of the Omnibus Rule over time (temporal analysis). The goal is to establish guidelines for best practices in handling sensitive information within hospitals and clinical environments.

METHODS

The study used data from the Department of Health and Human Services on reported breaches, assessing the severity and impact of each breach type. We then analyzed secondary data to examine whether HIPAA's storage and retention rule amendments have influenced security and privacy incidents across all 50 states. Finally, we conducted a qualitative analysis of textual data from vulnerability and breach reports to identify actionable best practices for health care settings.

RESULTS

Our findings indicate that hacking or IT incidents have the most significant impact on the number of individuals affected, highlighting this as a primary breach category. The overall difference-in-differences trend reveals no significant reduction in breach rates (P=.50), despite state-level regulations exceeding HIPAA requirements and the introduction of the ombudsman rule. This persistence in breach trends implies that even strengthened protections and additional guidelines have not effectively curbed the rising number of affected individuals. Through qualitative analysis, we identified 15 unique values and associated best practices from industry standards.

CONCLUSIONS

Combining quantitative and qualitative insights, we propose the "SecureSphere framework" to enhance data security in health care institutions. This framework presents key security values structured in concentric circles: core values at the center and peripheral values around them. The core values include employee management, policy, procedures, and IT management. Peripheral values encompass the remaining security attributes that support these core elements. This structured approach provides a comprehensive security strategy for protecting patient health information and is designed to help health care organizations develop sustainable practices for data security.

Human Resources Information System (HRIS) to Enhance Civil Servants’ Innovation Outcomes: Compulsory or Complimentary?

The Internet of things (IoT) has oriented organisations digitally in administrating human resources. In line with this trend, Indonesian public sectors are adopting Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) to boost employee innovation outcomes. However, coercive pressure to implement HRIS has only resulted in fiascos for the technology, which cannot be fully considered to eliminate long, ineffective, and inefficient practices. This study examines the instrumental adoption factors to adopt HRIS in boosting employee innovation outcomes from technological, organisational, people, and social outlooks. The empirical data consisting of 500 valid datasets were obtained from public servants in Indonesia via web-based questionnaires. structural equation modelling (SEM), which was used to examine the relationship among constructs. Technology fit, organisational resources, knowledge, and social influences have positive impacts on technology adoption. However, when treated as a mediation, the negative path from HRIS to innovation outcomes implied that e-HRM reflected in HRIS implementation would not make employees innovative. The scrutinized under ability, motivation, and opportunity (AMO) framework and empirical insights clearly portray that Indonesian’s ability to fit into this framework is problematical, making technological innovation in the Indonesian public sector only complimentary, not compulsory. This study suggests that HRM reform in public organisations is a top priority if the country wishes to achieve world-class bureaucracy by 2025.

Blockchain Technology for Renewable Energy: Principles, Applications and Prospects

Blockchain, or distributed ledger, is an innovative technology that is emerging in various sectors and industries across the globe. It has attracted the attention of different interest groups such as energy companies, SMEs and start-ups, information technology developers, financial institutions, national authorities, and the university community. Through, for example, the decentralization of authority in transactions, Internet of Things (IoT) implementation, and smart contracting, the improvement of the daily business operations is firmly forecasted. In the energy sector, digitalization is already present in solutions such as smart grids, smart meters, electric vehicles, etc. Moreover, a new concept of the Internet of Energy (IoE) has been introduced in the academic literature. In this article, the level of trust and maturity of Blockchain technology implementation is investigated through the Blockchain Maturity Questionnaire, developed by the authors. The database consists of responses from upper management professionals from the renewable energy industry. The analysis reveals the state of know-how about Blockchain, the main benefits and bottlenecks associated with its implementation as well as willingness to integrate this technology in the case companies’ future operations. The insight from the industry experts helped to provide a “Roadmap for Blockchain Adoption” in future energy systems. This curiosity study yields numerous applications not only for the renewable energy industry experts but also for the interest groups coming from different industries, as well as public authorities and researchers scrutinizing the fields taken into its scope.