Decentralized Human Resource Technology

What has been promoted in a trustless world as a supply chain solution and an alternate form of currency, blockchain has gained acceptance in the enterprise space and various technical communities as a critical technology for the future. Given its embryonic state, blockchain is not a direct replacement for current human resource management systems. Rather, it is a new and better means of verifying claims of licensure, certification, formal degrees, and other records generally required throughout the applicant recruitment, onboarding and engagement cycle for workers. Blockchain offers a component in an emerging HR architecture based on microservices that enables employee data ownership and portability across boundaries, as well as solves compliance issues regarding privacy conditions enshrined in legislation in many countries.

Blockchain has already established its’ place in world trade through supply chain tracking and financial transactions. At this hour, blockchain has multiple new roles to play for the HR profession, e.g. in vaccine prioritization and distribution among workforces, and in transnational employee data transfer amid security and privacy concerns.

Notwithstanding political rhetoric and multinational agreements, trade is fundamentally a competitive process focused on securing and sustaining market-share. Right now, seeking solutions to treat, even cure the pandemic, protecting and maintaining a functioning workforce, and restoring the local and national economies define a survivor profile of the victor, be they individual, incorporated, or governmental. There is little doubt that the rate of blockchain adoption has and will continue to reflect its influence and necessity around the world. More immediately, however, companies and even entire countries without a blockchain strategy may well concede world trade dominance to the first who successfully launch a COVID-19 vaccination program.

In 2020 IHRIM, in conjunction with Competitive Edge Technology’s Human Resource division, established Consortium DeHR to foster worldwide collaboration among businesses, especially employers, HR/Technology vendors, HR associations, and government agencies. Additionally, the Consortium intends to develop standards and practices based upon the Presidio Principles of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Given the scalability and potential reach of blockchain and other technologies, like machine learning and 5G wireless networks, IHRIM believes building a sustainable infrastructure to implement the Presidio Principles globally is achievable for all companies and their digital assets, especially involving verified identification and transaction validation while maintaining personal ownership and control.

In the future, IHRIM will be publishing the proceedings of Consortium DeHR in Workforce Solution Review (WSR) and across other channels. Articles will consider the historical legislative and regulatory efforts surrounding data privacy ownership and an overview of the WEFC’s Presidio Principles. Thereafter, we will examine the technicalities of implementing blockchain for HR data, a potential use case study involving vaccination tracking among workers, and various other topics.

Dennis Hill, Ph.D.
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Dennis Hill, Ph.D. is the Founder of Sagacity, LLC, and inaugural chair of Consortium DeHR. Dr. Hill is an expert C-Suite Change Catalyzer who “solves problems and makes measurements” and the #1 International Bestselling Business Author/Editor and Public Speaker on integrated processes in the series entitled Brilliant Breakthroughs for Small Business Owners. Dennis is an award-winning software designer and engineering professor. He has worked for four decades on creating integrated business systems involving workforce recruitment and human resources, traditional ERP, and CRM with a unique focus on data ownership and privacy. He has served as a Board Member of more than twenty companies and organizations, including IHRIM where he is responsible for Partnerships and Alliances and currently serves as Chairman and CEO. His education includes degrees in Engineering (Biomedical/Electrical/Computer) from Marquette, Business/Change Management from Sorbonne, and Law from Champlain, as well as memberships and certifications from SHRM, HRCI, and IHRIM, the Association for Change Management, the Association for Conflict Resolution, and the Society for Manufacturing Engineers. He may be reached at [email protected]

 

John Macy
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John Macy is a globally recognized thought leader in HR technology and has been an industry leader for the last two decades. He founded Competitive Edge Technology in 1994. He was awarded a Life Fellowship with the Australian HR Institute in 2013 and inducted in AHRI’s Hall of Fame in 2020. He is a member of AHRI’s Technology Advisory Panel, a member of the ISO Standards Committee for Blockchain and was a member of a working group developing Australia’s Blockchain Roadmap. As an HR consultant specializing in technology, he has worked throughout Asia and China and spent several years working in America. He has written several books on HR technology and contributed to numerous publications over many years. His extensive HR experience was gained working for Qantas Airways in senior HR positions. You can reach John at [email protected].

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