Decision Models for Selecting Patterns in Governance-driven Blockchain Systems

Yue Liu, Qinghua Lu, Hye-Young Paik, Guangsheng Yu, Liming Zhu

Abstract: Blockchain technology can construct a decentralised architecture design for diverse software applications. Nevertheless, the defects of on-chain algorithmic autonomy and subsequent tedious arguments for fixing the bugs raised concerns about whether blockchain can operate in a trustworthy way. Although multiple architectural patterns for blockchain governance have been summarised, concentrating on different governance dimensions (i.e., decision rights, incentives, and accountability), there is a need for guidance on the adoption of these patterns. In this paper, we present a set of decision models that can assist architects and developers in selecting appropriate patterns, to achieve governance in blockchain systems. This study provides a mapping between governance-related problems and each architectural pattern, and clarifies the trade-offs and conditions. The proposed decision models were evaluated based on expert opinions regarding the usability, correctness, and completeness collected via interviews.