SmartMinutes—A Blockchain-Based Framework for Automated, Reliable, and Transparent Meeting Minutes Management

The aim of this research work was to investigate the applicability of smart contracts in the context of automating the process of managing meeting minutes. To this end, smartMinutes, a proof-of-concept prototype of automating meeting minutes was designed, implemented, and validated with test cases. The smartMinutes framework improves current practices related to the meeting minutes process by providing automation in areas where possible, and doing so in a transparent, flexible, reliable, and tamper-proof manner. The last feature is of paramount importance due to the fact that meeting minutes offer legal protection, as they are considered official records of the actions taken by an organisation. Additionally, smartMinutes supports meeting agendas with non-voting items as well as voting items, offering a pool of three voting schemes, executing under three different configurations. A particular configuration, the hidden mode, provides for secrecy while at the same time guaranteeing transparency.