INTRODUCTION to Blocks to BlockChain Blog

The generational memories of those who once used paper and pencil to plan and conduct business, to those who today barely know what manual writing is about – so much has changed. 

In my lifetime I’ve seen many developments and pioneered a few along the way.  I’ve watched as room-sized, mainframe computers and keypunch cards morph into centralised dumb terminals.  Tandy and  Commodore provided lovingly called, “Propellerheads” with components to build primitive PCs.  Recording media started on audio cassette tapes and achieving 512K storage space was huge.

We activated our builds by writing software programs using page after page of complicated code, published openly in Byte or Creative Computing magazines.  GUI replaced DOS green screens.  JavaScript arrived, ARPANET was commandeered for public use to begin the flood of today’s email and social media miasma. 

The Internet brought websites.  Mainframes became dumb terminals, became personal computers, became tablets and now our cell phones are more powerful than most mainframes from those early days, thanks to the cloud. 

With increasing reliance on these tools, accompanying risks are continually exposed and risk management, privacy and security of databases increased by the power of ten.  Today, BlockChain is offering new hope.

However, as with any new technology, all too many companies are blindly signing up for blockchain cures without a clear understanding of what blockchain can and can’t do.  

BlockChain is not for every organisation.  Before there is too much sand in the air to see clearly and before we regret wanton waste of corporate resources, loss of employee motivation and engagement -- or even worse -- business failures -- we need more reliable information, rather than hype.

This blog intends to provide you with a practical look at: 

·        What BlockChain is about

·        What benefits BlockChain promises

·        How to know if it is appropriate for your organisation

·        Possible applications

·        How to create a wise strategy and game plan to deliver benefits

·        How to recognise and manage constraints and roadblocks

It is a new specialty area and we are all learning, so I hope you will dialogue with me along the way so we all benefit.