Research Methodologies to Supportthe Development of Blockchain Standards
Madeleine Maslin, Millicent Watt, Christopher Yong · Journal of ICT Standardization · 2019
This paper dissects the research methodologies implemented by the Research Team for the Smart Contracts Working Group (TC-307/IT-041 Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies) in developing standards to inform best practice in the design and use of blockchain and distributed ledger technologies.In doing so, it explores the origins of blockchain standardisation and outlines the high-level methodology for conducting and delivering research in this rapidly evolving space.Using three case studies, this paper shows how different tasks give rise to, and benefit from, specialised methodologies.These case studies also highlight a number of challenges and opportunities, and demonstrate how a flexible research approach can increase efficiency and generate findings that are likely to influence blockchain standardisation at a global level.Case Study 1 describes our research into the legal status of smart contracts and the challenge of delivering clear findings about unclear subject matter.Case Study 2, which involved examining the sufficiency of existing regulatory frameworks in the supply chain and trade facilitation context, illustrates how rigid formatting specifications can impact the content of findings.In contrast,