Critical Analysis and Problem Solving in Networked Application Management

Purpose of the assessment (with ULO Mapping)

The purpose of this assignment is to develop skills of analysing critically, and problem solving in regard to Networked Application Management (NAM).

Students will be able to complete the following ULOs:

a. Apply socio-technical contexts in modern network applications and management;
b. Utilise common and emerging types of middleware to design and manage networked applications;

Assignment Description

A report containing a complete discussion and analysis of the given topic in the required context needs to be submitted on Moodle. The report must have following parts:

Part 1: Blockchain

The students explore network application management of Blockchain by reviewing the literature on the internet as papers, book chapters, and independent scholarly reports by experts, and research based videos. Students participating in the PBL are taught how to do the critical thinking for review of literature. At least three articles related to technology supporting Blockchain need to be analysed in depth by discussing the overall contribution, scope and limitations of each research work. Following aspects related to Blockchain must be discussed:
- Architecture
- Features
- Challenges

Part 2: Applications of Blockchain

Students need to discuss at least one application in EACH of the following domains supported by Blockchain:
- Currency
- Smart contracts

Part 3: Socio-Technical aspects

The move of traditional computing and storage to decentralised Blockchain has a social bearing on its users and how they perceive these new applications. The socio-technical aspects of the applications mentioned in part 2 need to be discussed in detail.