Overview

This unit will develop students’ knowledge and skills in the managing, utilizing and leveraging of information technologies to support daily operations in financial institutions. This subject provides students with an understanding of Blockchain as an emerging technology and how it will potentially affect the delivery of financial services, the potential implications for incumbent financial service providers and those seeking to disrupt them.

Requisites

Teaching Periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
HE Block 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
05-February-2024
17-March-2024
Last self-enrolment date
05-February-2024
Census date
16-February-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
01-March-2024
Results released date
30-April-2024
HE Block 7
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
07-October-2024
17-November-2024
Last self-enrolment date
07-October-2024
Census date
18-October-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
01-November-2024
Results released date
17-December-2024

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Critically analyse the key issues, challenges and priorities for technologies in financial services, and the new and emerging technologies in different business contexts
  • Demonstrate coherent and advanced knowledge of the impact of financial technologies on financial markets, exchanges and banking.
  • Synthesise prior learning including the use of research techniques to examine emerging technologies and their implications on financial services delivery
  • Research and critically evaluate the role of Blockchain technologies, as well as, other technological artefacts/concepts in financial services
  • Communicate and present in a proficient and professional manner as a member or leader of a group of people

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Class
2.00 12 weeks 24
Online
Lecture
1.00 12 weeks 12
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning
9.50 12 weeks 114
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssignmentIndividual 10 - 20% 1,2 
Presentation and ReportGroup 30 - 40% 1,2,3,5 
Research ReportIndividual 40 - 60% 1,2,3,4 

Content

  • Blockchain and Cryptography Fundamentals (Mining, Hash Functions, Consensus Mechanisms, Public/Private Key Cryptography and Digital Signature Algorithms, Decentralized Applications)
  • Design Principles (Types of Blockchain), Interoperability, Governance and Implementation 
  • Smart Contracts (Design, Coding, Deployment and Execution)
  • Tokenization, Cryptoassets, Bitcoin/Ethereum, Cryptocurrency Tokens and Decentralized Finance  
  • Blockchain in Financial Services: Opportunities and Threats
  • Blockchain-Enabled Business Models (Financial Services/FinTech Innovation and Blockchain for Social Impact/Sustainable Development Goals)
  • Distributed and Decentralized Trust, Self-Sovereign Identity, Responsible and Ethical Blockchain
  • The Regulatory Environment and the Future of Blockchain-led FinTech
  • Developing a Blockchain Strategic Implementation and Commercialization Roadmap 

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.