ASSESSMENT 1 PART A BRIEF
Subject Code and Title MIS603 Microservices Architecture
Assessment Microservices Case Study – Part A
Individual/Group Individual
Length 1000 words (+/- 10%)
Learning Outcomes The Subject Learning Outcomes demonstrated by successful completion of the task below include:
a) Undertake research to demonstrate an understanding of microservices and how they contribute to business processes.
b) Discuss core concepts of microservices architecture within a context of a business case study and summarise the advantages and disadvantages of adopting microservices architecture.
c) Communicate the benefits of microservices architecture to a diverse stakeholder audience by addressing complex business needs and aligning strategies to business priorities defined by changing business requirements.
Submission Due by 11:55pm AEST Sunday end of Module 2.2 (Week 4)
Weighting 25%
Total Marks 100 marks
Task Summary
For this assessment, you are required to write an individual report of 1000 words (+/- 10%) on the key principles and concepts of microservices architecture and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of adopting microservices architecture for businesses in general. This assessment is intended to build your fundamental understanding of these key concepts to enable you to respond to a case study as presented in Assessment 1 Part B. In doing so, it will formatively develop the knowledge required for you to apply to the case presented in Part B.
Context
Microservices architecture has emerged as an evolution of software development patterns and techniques. Previous software development techniques for self-contained monolithic applications and service-oriented architecture have been longstanding. More recently, with the development of cloud computing, new ways of software development have evolved with microservices architecture recognised as a cloud-native software development approach.
As a professional, your role will require that you understand the principles of software development, especially in the field of cloud-based platforms, which are rapidly becoming the preferred hosting solution for many organisations. Having a working understanding of these concepts will enable you to fulfil many roles and functions, and be informed as to what factors influence decision making when software development architecture has been selected. Whilst you may not be a developer, it will enable you to have meaningful conversations about the principles of microservices architecture and why certain decisions may be made in a certain way. This will support you to manage the bridge between IT and the business.
Task Instructions
1. Write a 1000-word report to demonstrate your understanding of the theoretical concepts of microservices architecture in two specific areas:
a. What are the key principles and concepts of microservices architecture?
b. What are the advantages and disadvantages of microservices architecture?
Please note that this is intended to allow you to develop a strong theoretical understanding, which you will then apply to a specific case shared with you in Part B of this assessment. The aim is to allow you to progressively develop a foundational knowledge of the topic, which you will then extend by demonstrating how your knowledge can be applied in the case context.
2. Whilst most of the material to support your development of knowledge for this assessment can be found in the Essential Resources listed in the module content, you are encouraged to do further research in this topic area to broaden your knowledge.
Perform additional research in the area of investigation and select five additional sources that will add value to your report in the relevant area of investigation.
3. The report should consist of the following structure:
A title page with subject code and name, assignment title, student’s name, student number, and lecturer’s name.
The introduction (75–100 words) that will also serve as your statement of purpose for the report—this means that you will tell the reader what you are going to cover in your report.
You will need to inform the reader of:
a. Your area of research and its context
b. The key concepts you will be addressing
c. What the reader can expect to find in the body of the report
The body of the report (800–850 words) will need to cover two specific areas:
a. What are the key principles and concepts of microservices architecture? Please use a paragraph to cluster similar concepts and principles together in structuring your report.
b. What are the advantages and disadvantages of microservices architecture?
A comparative table followed by a brief explanation is required in this section.
The conclusion (75–100 words) will summarise any findings or recommendations that the report puts forward regarding the concepts covered in the report.
4. Format of the report
The report should use font Arial or Calibri 11 point, be line spaced at 1.5 for ease of reading, and have page numbers on the bottom of each page. If diagrams or tables are used, due attention should be given to pagination to avoid loss of meaning and continuity by unnecessarily splitting information over two pages. Diagrams must carry the appropriate captioning.
5. Referencing
There are requirements for referencing this report using APA referencing style. It is expected that you reference any lecture notes used and five additional sources in the relevant subject area based on readings and further research.
It is essential that you use the appropriate APA style for citing and referencing research.
Please see more information on referencing here:
http://library.laureate.net.au/research_skills/referencing
6. You are strongly advised to read the rubric, which is an evaluation guide with criteria for grading the assignment—this will give you a clear picture of what a successful report looks like.
Submission Instructions
Submit Assessment 1 Part A via the Assessment link in the main navigation menu in MIS603 Microservices Architecture. The Learning Facilitator will provide feedback via the Grade Centre in the LMS portal. Feedback can be viewed in My Grades.
Academic Integrity Declaration
I declare that, except where I have referenced, the work I am submitting for this assessment task is my own work. I have read and am aware of the Torrens University Australia Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure viewable online at http://www.torrens.edu.au/policies-and-forms
I am aware that I need to keep a copy of all submitted material and their drafts, and I will do so accordingly.
Assessment Rubric
Assessment Attributes Fail
(Yet to achieve minimum standard) 0–49% Pass
(Functional) 50–64% Credit
(Proficient)
65–74% Distinction
(Advanced)
75–84% High Distinction
(Exceptional)
85–100%
Visual appeal and
presentation of content
Title page included. Adheres to the font, spacing, format, and
word count requirement.
Appropriate use of paragraphs, sentence construction, spelling, and grammar.
20%
No title page. Incorrect font and size with poor line spacing and large gaps in pagination, tables, or diagrams.
Report is written as a block of text with no breaks in between ideas. Separate ideas cannot be clearly discerned.
Many errors in spelling or grammar. Does not adhere to the word count requirement.
Title page is included. Missing most information. Incorrect font and size is used or poor line spacing and large gaps in pagination.
Paragraphs are used but large blocks of text with long sentences make it difficult to understand the ideas being conveyed.
Spelling or grammar has errors but meaning remains clear. Does not adhere to the word count requirement. Title page is included but is missing key information. Some errors in font use and line spacing. Some pagination problems.
One idea or concept per paragraph. Some paragraphs could be more succinctly written.
Minor spelling or grammar errors. Adheres to the word count requirement. Title page is included with most required information. Minor errors in font, spacing and format.
One idea or concept per paragraph with 3–4 wellconstructed sentences per paragraph.
No errors in spelling or grammar. Adheres to the word count requirement. Title page is included with all required information. Font, spacing, and format are in accordance with the requirements of the assignment brief.
Expert use of paragraphs with 3–4 well-constructed sentences per paragraph that follow logically from each other.
No errors in spelling or grammar. Adheres to the word count requirement
Knowledge and
understanding
Understanding of the key concepts and principles of microservices architecture and comparative advantages and disadvantages of Lack of understanding of the required concepts and knowledge. Key components of the assignment are not addressed.
Lack of application and analysis of information to provide clear recommendations.
Limited understanding of required concepts and knowledge. Some of the key components of the assignment are not addressed.
Limited application and analysis to provide clear recommendations.
Adequate knowledge or understanding of the required concepts. A reasonable capacity to explain and apply relevant key concepts.
Supports opinion and information substantiated by evidence from research to provide recommendations. Thorough understanding of the key concepts. Discriminates between assertion of opinion and information substantiated by robust evidence from the research/course materials and extended reading.
Well-demonstrated capacity to apply and Highly developed understanding of the field or discipline/s.
Systematically and critically discriminates between assertion of opinion and information substantiated by robust evidence from the research/course
microservices architecture.
50%
analyse relevant information to provide clear recommendations.
materials and extended reading.
Recommendations are
clearly justified based on the application and analysis of information.
Use of academic and
discipline conventions
Formal tone. No use of first-party perspective.
Meets the assignment brief regarding introduction, body, and conclusion.
Appropriate use of credible resources. Correct citation of key resources using APA style of referencing.
30%
Does not adhere to the assignment brief of the requirements for a short business report. Poorly written with informal tone using first person pronouns (I, my, we, me, us).
No introduction attempted. Conclusion not attempted.
Demonstrates inconsistent and inadequate use of goodquality, credible, and relevant resources to support and develop ideas.
No use of in-text references, or no reference list at the close of the report. There are many mistakes in using the APA style. Written according to academic genre as per the assignment brief. Minor errors in the use of firstperson pronouns (I, my, we, me, us).
Introduction attempted but very generic, and does not clearly state the purpose of the report and what the reader should expect to find in the body of the report.
Conclusion attempted but does not include summation of key concepts discussed in the report and/or key conclusions or recommendations.
Demonstrates consistent use of credible and relevant research sources to support and develop ideas, but these are not always explicit or well-developed.
Written according to academic genre as per the assignment brief.
Sound use of the introduction but does not clearly state either the purpose of the report or what the reader should expect to find in the body of the report.
Sound use of the conclusion and succeeds in either the summation of key concepts
discussed, or key conclusions or recommendations, but not both.
Demonstrates consistent use of credible and relevant research sources to support and develop ideas.
Good use of in-text referencing and appropriate number of Well-written and adheres to the academic genre as per the assignment brief.
Good use of the introduction, which clearly states the purpose of the report and what the reader should expect to find in the body of the report.
Good use of the conclusion and succeeds in summation of key concepts discussed and key conclusions or recommendations.
Consistently demonstrates expert use of good quality, credible, and relevant research sources to support and develop appropriate arguments and statements. Shows evidence of reading beyond the key reading.
Very good use of in-text referencing. All in-text Expertly written and adheres to the academic genre as per the assignment brief.
Excellent use of the introduction, which secures the attention of the reader, clearly states the purpose of the report and what the reader should expect to find in the body of the report.
Excellent use of the conclusion, which succeeds in confident summation of key concepts and conclusions and gives the reader a clear sense of next steps required.
Demonstrates expert use of high-quality credible and relevant research sources to support and develop arguments and position statements. Shows
Little use of in-text referencing, or inadequate references consulted and added to references at the close of the report. There are some mistakes in using APA style. references used and listed in the reference list. There are only minor errors in using the APA style. references match with references listed in the reference list. There are no mistakes in using the APA style.
extensive evidence of reading beyond the key reading.
Excellent and meticulous use of in-text referencing with all in-text references matching with references listed in the reference list. There are no mistakes in using the APA style.