Blockchain Opportunity Analysis from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Industry Analysis

Almost every industry can expect to experience a major business model disruption as blockchain technologies take hold. In this module, you will explore current applications of blockchain in various industries, and will choose one industry on which to focus your final course project. You will research examples of applications or use-cases of blockchain technology within your chosen industry, and will contribute to our Blockchain Case Commons, which will serve as a shared, continuously-evolving resource for all course participants. As well, you will perform some preliminary market research in order to identify a specific market segment within your chosen industry that shows promise for blockchain technologies.

Opportunity Identification

When identifying opportunities for blockchain technology within your chosen market, it is important to understand the kinds of problems that it can and cannot solve—at least in its current state. In this module, you will learn to distinguish between problems that are and are not well-suited to blockchain-based solutions. After considering various opportunities for blockchain technology within your chosen market segment, you will learn how to use a decision matrix to select the most promising idea to pursue for your final project. By the end of this week, you will clarify the purpose and objectives of your project, you will identify your target customers/audience, and you will prepare a statement of need and statement of benefit for your proposal.

Positioning

In the last module, you identified a promising idea or opportunity for blockchain within your chosen market segment. This week, you will work on positioning your idea—carving out a niche or identity for your product/service within the minds of your target customers. By the end of this week, you will explain how your idea will bring new or added value to your customers, and how your idea will affect the positioning for your organization.

Execution

An idea may seem great on paper, however actually executing this idea will require careful consideration of various business-model decisions, including those related to funding, risk, talent, timing, corporate boundaries, and partners/allies. In this module, you will begin to think about what would be required to transform your opportunity from an idea to reality.

Final Deliverable

So far in this course you have performed an industry analysis, selected a specific market segment, assessed your competition, and identified a promising opportunity for blockchain within your chosen market. As well, you have described how you will position your idea, and have given consideration to the business model decisions that need to be made in order to transform your idea into reality. In this final module, you will consolidate all of the work you have produced thus far into a final, peer-reviewed project deliverable, which you can use to pitch your idea to your organization and/or potential investors.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Examines blockchain technology and its use in industry, which is highly relevant to business and entrepreneurship

Provides a strong foundation for understanding blockchain technology and its potential applications

Taught by Alex Tapscott and Don Tapscott, who are recognized for their work in blockchain technology

Develops skills in identifying and evaluating opportunities for blockchain technology, which is valuable for business professionals

Somewhat tailored to those seeking to establish a career or business in blockchain

Reviews summary

Blockchain applications for entrepreneurs

Learners say this course is generally well received, with many remarking that it is a good course to learn about the basics of blockchain technology and its applications. The course is engaging and interactive, with many learners valuing the peer review tasks. Learners also note that the course goes beyond just blockchain and teaches about product strategy and positioning in the context of blockchain. However, some learners have complained about delays in assignment grading and unnecessary delays in completing the specialization due to peer grading and assignment grades not being released in a timely manner.

Experts in blockchain

"The presenters are certainly blockchain experts and there is lots of good content"

"Professor Tapscott explained everything so well."

"Good, a little bit fluffy if that makes any sense"

Covers basics of blockchain

"Good course to learn about the basics of implementing of blockchain"

"This course is very good and easy to learn."

"nice information but peer-to-peer projects might get disappoint you."

Practical application of blockchain

"In this course we deep dive into practical application of blockchain and develop our own business/startup involving blockchain. Its really a great course."

"I really recommend the full specialisation, this course being a way to put all learning into a practice on a choosen case."

"By taking this course, I could know how blockchain technology will be used for our real world."

Interactive peer review tasks

"The peer review tasks were fun, interactive and insightful."

"A perfect learning combination between entrepreneurship and blockchain!"

"This course goes beyond blockchain and teaches about product strategy and positioning, in the context of blockchain"

Unnecessary delays due to peer grading

"Course material is good but peer grading is causing unnecessary delays in completing this specialization"

"The peer review assignments for this course are taking too long to get graded."

"nice information but peer-to-peer projects might get disappoint you."

Assignment grading delays

"Assignment grades were not released in due time"

"Course is good but grading process is too slow."

"The peer review assignments for this course are taking too long to get graded."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Blockchain Opportunity Analysis with these activities:

Follow a Blockchain Tutorial Series

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Build a solid understanding of blockchain concepts and gain practical skills through guided tutorials.

Browse courses on Blockchain Fundamentals

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Find a reputable tutorial series.
Follow the tutorials step-by-step.
Implement the concepts and techniques in your own projects.

Review Blockchain Concepts

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Revisit key blockchain concepts such as distributed ledger technology, consensus mechanisms, and smart contracts.

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Read articles or watch videos on blockchain basics.
Review whitepapers or blog posts from reputable sources.
Participate in online forums or discussions to clarify concepts.

Read "Blockchain Revolution" by Don Tapscott and Alex Tapscott

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Gain insights into the transformative potential of blockchain technology from industry thought leaders.

View Blockchain Revolution: How the Technology... on Amazon

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Read and summarize key chapters.
Identify and discuss key concepts and arguments.
Apply the book's insights to your own blockchain project or analysis.

Three other activities

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Show all six activities

Explore Blockchain Use Cases

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Identify and analyze specific examples of how blockchain is being used in various industries to solve real-world problems.

Browse courses on Blockchain Use Cases

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Research and read about different industries utilizing blockchain.
Identify use cases that demonstrate the value and impact of blockchain technology.
Analyze the benefits and challenges associated with implementing blockchain solutions.

Attend a Blockchain Meetup or Webinar

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Connect with industry professionals and fellow learners to exchange ideas and learn about the latest developments in blockchain.

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Find a relevant meetup or webinar.
Attend the event and actively participate.
Network with other attendees.

Contribute to a Blockchain Project

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Gain hands-on experience and contribute to the growth of the blockchain ecosystem by participating in open-source projects.

Browse courses on Blockchain Development

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Identify a project that aligns with your skills and interests.
Review the project's codebase and documentation.
Propose and implement improvements.
Collaborate with other contributors.

Career center

Learners who complete Blockchain Opportunity Analysis will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Blockchain Project Manager

As a Blockchain Project Manager, you will be responsible for planning, executing, and delivering blockchain-based projects. This course will help you develop the skills you need to manage blockchain projects successfully. You will learn how to scope and define blockchain projects, and how to manage the risks and challenges associated with blockchain development. This course will give you the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in this critical role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Blockchain Project Manager

Blockchain Security Analyst

As a Blockchain Security Analyst, you will be responsible for assessing and mitigating the security risks associated with blockchain-based systems. This course will help you develop the skills you need to identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities in blockchain-based systems. You will learn how to perform security audits of blockchain-based systems, and how to develop and implement security measures to protect blockchain-based systems from attack. This course will give you the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in this critical role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Blockchain Security Analyst

Blockchain Developer

As a Blockchain Developer, you will be responsible for designing and developing blockchain-based solutions. This course will help you build a solid foundation in blockchain technology and its applications. You will learn how to identify opportunities for blockchain within different industries, and how to execute blockchain-based projects. This course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this rapidly growing field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Blockchain Developer

Blockchain Engineer

As a Blockchain Engineer, you will be responsible for developing and maintaining blockchain-based systems. This course will help you develop the skills you need to build and deploy blockchain-based solutions. You will learn how to develop smart contracts, and how to use blockchain development tools and frameworks. This course will give you the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in this rapidly growing field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Blockchain Engineer

Blockchain Analyst

As a Blockchain Analyst, you will be responsible for analyzing and evaluating blockchain-based solutions. This course will help you develop the skills you need to assess the potential of blockchain technology for different applications. You will learn how to identify and mitigate risks associated with blockchain, and how to make recommendations on the best course of action for your organization. This course will give you the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in this emerging field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Blockchain Analyst

Blockchain Architect

As a Blockchain Architect, you will be responsible for designing and developing the architecture of blockchain-based systems. This course will help you develop the skills you need to design and implement scalable, secure, and efficient blockchain-based systems. You will learn how to choose the right blockchain platform for your needs, and how to design and implement blockchain-based solutions that meet your business requirements. This course will give you the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in this highly specialized field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Blockchain Architect

Blockchain Consultant

As a Blockchain Consultant, you will be responsible for advising clients on the use of blockchain technology. This course will help you develop the knowledge and skills you need to provide expert advice on blockchain-based solutions. You will learn how to identify opportunities for blockchain within different industries, and how to develop and implement blockchain-based projects. This course will give you the competitive edge you need to succeed in this in-demand field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Blockchain Consultant

Blockchain Product Manager

As a Blockchain Product Manager, you will be responsible for planning, developing, and launching blockchain-based products. This course will help you develop the skills you need to bring blockchain-based products to market successfully. You will learn how to identify and validate blockchain-based product opportunities, and how to develop and execute blockchain-based product roadmaps. This course will give you the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in this emerging field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Blockchain Product Manager

Blockchain Entrepreneur

As a Blockchain Entrepreneur, you will be responsible for starting and running a blockchain-based business. This course will help you develop the knowledge and skills you need to succeed as a blockchain entrepreneur. You will learn how to identify and validate blockchain-based business opportunities, and how to develop and execute blockchain-based business plans. This course will give you the competitive edge you need to succeed in this exciting and emerging field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Blockchain Entrepreneur

Blockchain Researcher

As a Blockchain Researcher, you will be responsible for conducting research on blockchain technology. This course will help you develop the knowledge and skills you need to conduct cutting-edge research on blockchain technology. You will learn about the latest advances in blockchain technology, and how to design and conduct research studies on blockchain-related topics. This course will give you the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in this academic field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Blockchain Researcher

Blockchain Educator

As a Blockchain Educator, you will be responsible for teaching and training others about blockchain technology. This course will help you develop the knowledge and skills you need to be an effective blockchain educator. You will learn about the different ways to teach and train about blockchain technology, and how to develop and deliver blockchain-related educational materials. This course will give you the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in this important role.

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Blockchain Lawyer

As a Blockchain Lawyer, you will be responsible for advising clients on the legal implications of blockchain technology. This course will help you develop the knowledge and skills you need to provide expert advice on blockchain-related matters. You will learn about the legal frameworks governing blockchain technology, and how to draft and negotiate blockchain-related contracts. This course will give you the competitive edge you need to succeed in this rapidly evolving field.

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Blockchain Regulator

As a Blockchain Regulator, you will be responsible for developing and enforcing regulations governing blockchain technology. This course will help you develop the knowledge and skills you need to create and implement effective blockchain regulations. You will learn about the legal and policy issues surrounding blockchain technology, and how to develop and implement regulations that protect consumers and promote innovation. This course will give you the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in this critical role.

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Financial Analyst

As a Financial Analyst, you will be responsible for analyzing financial data and making recommendations on investment decisions. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in specializing in blockchain-related investments. You will learn about the different types of blockchain-based assets, and how to analyze and value these assets. This course will give you the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in this emerging field.

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Software Engineer

As a Software Engineer, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software applications. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in specializing in blockchain-based software development. You will learn about the different blockchain platforms and development tools, and how to design and develop blockchain-based software applications. This course will give you the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in this emerging field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer