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The Blockchain Trilemma of the IT Project Manager

Book Chapter

Authors: Vijaya Kittu Manda; Vivek Gupta

Book Name: Modern Management Challenges: A Case Compendium

ISBN: 978-93-89947-67-0

Publisher: Excel India Publishers, New Delhi, India

Editor(s): Dr. Syed Azhar, Prof. Mohd. Khaja Qutubuddin, Mr. Ashish Balapur

Book Chapter Number: 5

Publication Date: March 31, 2024

Pages: 66 - 77

Abstract: Blockchain is a vital Industry 4.0 disruption technology that is yet to catch up in industry adoption. IT Project managers who design, build, and implement blockchain systems for their clients (corporates and governments) face a trilemma during project execution. A trilemma is a situation where one of the three choices is to be sacrificed to win the other two. A blockchain trilemma involves three elements - decentralization, security, and scalability. One of these three will suffer a trade-off in a bit to accommodate the other two, making it challenging for IT Project Management in blockchain deployment situations. This case explains the trilemma Vitalik Buterin first coined and how corporate IT managers involved in blockchain implementations must address the issue during system design and development. The case helps MBA Fintech and MS/MSc Computer Science and Information Systems stream students understand the concepts of the trilemma. The case also allows Information Technology Industry Professionals to make informed decisions about how blockchain technologies will be adopted and implemented in the client organization.

Keywords: decentralization, security, scalability, sharding, trilemma

DOI: http://doi.org/https://zenodo.org/records/11910324

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