Postgraduate Course: Blockchain, Governance and Policy (CMSE11440)
Course Outline
| School | Business School |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | The course will provide students with the necessary skills to understand the strategic potential and limitations of Blockchain technology to transform contemporary business models, markets and institutions. It requires no background knowledge and is specifically tailored to the novice's needs. Anyone with an interest in technology will greatly benefit from following this course.
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| Course description |
This course aims to introduce students into the strategic potential and limitations of Blockchain technology to shape contemporary business models, markets and institutions. Despite the widespread interest and hype, Blockchain is still a nascent technology and a clear strategy for its successful implementation has not yet materialised. Without a critical understanding of the potential value Blockchain can generate and the feasibility of applying it, organisations will not generate benefits from its potential. Against this background, this course explores the following questions: how can organisations develop a strategic business case that justifies major investments in Blockchain technology? What are the risks that have to be taken into account in this process? What are potential future developments in the industry and in relation to policy-making? The course explores these concerns with a focus on the potential strategic importance of Blockchain for specific sectors within the economy and society, and it draws from specific use-cases to assess what approaches are likely to generate value. The course will also offer broader reflections on the role of tech innovations in reshaping contemporary institutions and values within an increasingly digitised society. While participants will develop a strong understanding of the underlying concepts and driving forces of these questions, the course does not strictly focus on a granular and tech-focused exploration of Blockchain. Instead it develops the necessary skills of students to become competent decision-makers and analysts to guide strategy and policy.
Outline Content
The course is built out of the following topics:
- An introduction to Blockchain technology, its evolution and its key building blocks and concepts.
- Blockchain as a disruptor of existing business models, institutions and values
- Limitations and frontiers of Blockchain
- Critically developing a strategic business case for Blockchain
- The policy environment for the technological innovations like Blockchain
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2022/23, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 45 |
| Course Start |
Block 3 (Sem 2) |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 10,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
88 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
100% coursework (individual) - assesses all course Learning Outcomes
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| Feedback |
Formative: students are strongly encouraged to obtain formative feedback by participating in class discussions.
Summative: students will be provided individual feedback on the coursework assignment. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Develop a critical understanding on the key concepts and philosophy underlying Blockchain technology.
- Critically assess the extent to which Blockchain technology may disrupt existing business models in contemporary finance, business, government, institutions and social enterprise.
- Demonstrate an awareness of its limitations in specific economic and societal domains.
- Understand potential business applications of Blockchain and be able to assess their risks.
- Understand the broader policy environment for tech innovations such as Blockchain.
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Reading List
Tapscott & Tapscott (2016) "Blockchain revolution: How the technology behind Bitcoin is changing money, business and the world."
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Communication, ICT, and Numeracy Skills
After completing this course, students should be able to:
- Critically evaluate and present digital and other sources, research methods, data and information; discern their limitations, accuracy, validity, reliability and suitability; and apply responsibly in a wide variety of organisational contexts.
Knowledge and Understanding
After completing this course, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate a thorough knowledge and understanding of contemporary organisational disciplines; comprehend the role of business within the contemporary world; and critically evaluate and synthesise primary and secondary research and sources of evidence in order to make, and present, well informed and transparent organisation-related decisions, which have a positive global impact.
- Identify, define and analyse theoretical and applied business and management problems, and develop approaches, informed by an understanding of appropriate quantitative and/or qualitative techniques, to explore and solve them responsibly.
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| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Taylor Spears
Tel: (0131 6)51 1057
Email: Taylor.Spears@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Tellisa Cannon
Tel: (0131 6)51 3758
Email: Tellisa.Cannon@ed.ac.uk |
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