Blockchain Economics (Autumn 2019)

Abstract

The goal of the course is to address current and future potentials of blockchain-based technologies for a range of (inter-)organizational purposes in a digital economy.

Description

Blockchain economic systems are still in their infancy but receive a dramatic increase in industrial and academic interest. Start-ups, as well as industry initiatives, are working intensely on blockchain-based innovations, making the technology one of the most promising drivers of innovation in many sectors and industries. However, the design and implementation of blockchain-based systems requires know-how in various areas, as well as mindful consideration of larger economic and societal issues.

Students will be able to understand, analyze and reflect on the potentials and limits of blockchain technologies for a range of (inter-)organizational purposes.

This course focuses on technological and economic foundations of blockchain economics, as well as complex systems theories, market engineering, strategies and governance of distributed systems, and network effects. Moreover, economic benefits of standards for new types of sharing economies and the Internet of Things will be discussed. A critical reflection of digital determinism as well legal implications will be included as well.

Formal prerequisites

This course constitutes the second part of the specialisation in Digital Economics. Only students who have participated in the first part of the specialisation, Service Economics, can follow the course.

Intended learning outcomes

After the course, the student should be able to:

• Reflect on the relationship between fading enterprises boundaries, transaction cost economics, IT governance, as well as standardization, and apply it in the context of blockchain.
• Explain the role of incentive mechanisms and economic theories for the successful implementation of a blockchain economy.
• Describe and discuss your personal role as an innovative business manager and accompanying chances and risks in a globalized blockchain economy.
• Reflect on the technological foundations of blockchain systems and critically analyze different blockchain implementations.
• Analyze, compare and interpret critically blockchain literature and apply theories and methods to blockchain projects.

Learning activities

As part of the course, students are expected to conduct an investigation related to the teaching topics in practice.
As part of their thesis preparation, students must find a supervisor. Students must meet with their supervisor at least twice during the semester. Students must have an approved thesis project agreement before the start of next semester.

Course literature

The course literature is published in the course page in LearnIT.

Ordinary exam

Exam type:
D: Submission of written work with following oral, external (7-trinsskala)
Exam variation:
D1G: Submission of written work for groups with following oral exam. The oral exam will be based on the submitted work only. The group has a shared responsibility for the content of the report.
Exam description:

The written assignment is a report written in groups of 1 - 3 persons.

The report is 20 pp + 4 additional pp per group member.

Duration of the oral exam: 30 minutes per student incl. joint presentation for groups and assessment.

Time and date