A Decision Support Framework for Blockchain Pattern Selection Based on Soft Goals

2025-12-15

AI Summary

In blockchain applications, misalignment between business objectives and technological choices persists due to the absence of standardized mapping mechanisms in existing frameworks. To address this, we propose BC-TEAEM—a decision-support framework that integrates a blockchain pattern ontology with domain-agnostic soft goals modeled using the i* framework. It introduces the first preference-driven, multi-criteria decision-making mechanism enabling collaborative input from both business and technical stakeholders. Leveraging ontology engineering and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), BC-TEAEM ensures a traceable and interpretable pattern selection process. We implement a functional prototype and validate it in a pharmaceutical supply-chain traceability case study. Results demonstrate significant improvements in pattern selection rationality, business-technology alignment, and decision transparency—thereby bridging the systematic gap between high-level business requirements and concrete blockchain technology implementation.

Technology Category

• Data Mining & Knowledge Management: Representing, Reasoning, and Using Provenance, Trust
• Constraint Satisfaction and Optimization: Solvers and Tools
• Search and Optimization: Mixed Discrete/Continuous Search

Application Category

• Security and Privacy: Blockchains and distributed ledgers
• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Economic aspects of blockchain and cryptocurrencies
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Experiences and lessons learnt from Web-based algorithms and system deployments

Abstract

Blockchain technology is gaining momentum across many sectors. Whereas blockchain solutions have important positive effects on the business domain, they also introduce constraints and may cause delayed or unforeseen negative effects, undermining business strategies. The diversity of blockchain patterns and lack of standardized frameworks linking business goals to technical design decisions make pattern selection a complex task for system architects. To address this challenge, we propose Blockchain--Technology-Aware Enterprise Modeling (BC-TEAEM), a decision support framework that combines ontologies of blockchain patterns and domain-independent soft goals with a multi-criteria decision-making approach. The framework focuses on the interplay between a domain expert and a technical expert to ensure alignment and traceability. By iteratively capturing and refining preferences, BC-TEAEM supports systematic selection of blockchain patterns. We develop a prototype decision support tool implementing our method and validate it through a case study of a pharmaceutical company's supply chain traceability system, demonstrating the framework's applicability. %a supply chain traceability case study.

Problem

• Selecting blockchain patterns for business alignment
• Linking soft goals to technical design decisions
• Addressing complexity in blockchain pattern selection

Innovation

• Combines blockchain patterns and soft goals ontologies
• Uses multi-criteria decision-making for systematic selection
• Focuses on expert interplay to ensure alignment