Business Futures: the Sharing Economy
Understand the ins and outs of the sharing economy looking at its problems and opportunities with the free online course.
Duration
3 weeksWeekly study
2 hours
Business Futures: the Sharing Economy
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About the course
The sharing economy is a 21st Century phenomenon that has shaken the status quo in accommodation, transport, personal services, media and entertainment sectors.
This course provides an introduction to the sharing economy and examines its impact on economies, businesses and consumers. The growth of the sharing economy in many industry sectors highlights the challenges and opportunities while providing a range of options to provide innovative consumer experiences.
Trace the history of the sharing economy
The course begins by examining the emergence of the sharing economy by focusing on how and why it has grown so rapidly and its effect on established business models, and on the consumer experience. You will also learn from various entrepreneurs and early adopters who have taken a shot at creating value in a shared marketplace.
Explore the present-day sharing economy
We will investigate and evaluate the sharing economy by examining its drivers, the challenges and opportunities it presents and the implications for business.
Your part in the sharing economy
Whether you want to improve your own prospects, help your business capitalise on the sharing economy or simply be versed in the sharing economy, this course will provide you with the knowledge and skills to explore this business and economic disruptor.
What topics will you cover?
- The growth of the shared economy across multiple sectors which highlights the rapid global and community trend.
- How entrepreneurs have used sharing economy models to start new business opportunities.
- The different consumer experiences when using share economy brands to identify the incentives and challenges associated with each model.
- Different ways in which value is created and exchanged in the sharing economy.
- The role of the global financial crises and how it influences consumer and social consumption behaviour.
- The types of regulation that are currently in place or should be introduced to the sharing economy market to better protect the consumer.
- The environment benefits from the reuse of goods and how it can impact costs.
- The distinction between ‘sharing for profit’ and traditional sharing to inform your views on the future trend of the sharing economy.
- The implications of the sharing economy on consumption and its impact on the behaviour of peer-to-peer sharing participants and their reliance on trust currency.
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Discuss the concept of a sharing economy
- Analyse the various types of sharing economy and approaches to them
- Outline how the sharing economy impacts existing business practices and shapes consumption trends
- Assess some of the regulatory and economic implications of the sharing economy
- Identify criticisms of the sharing economy
- Investigate and sketch out what the future holds for the sharing economy
Who is the course for?
This course is aimed at professionals and students in disciplines of operations, finance, marketing, or human resources, who wish to learn more about the share economy.
What software or tools do you need?
To take part in this course, you'll need:
- A computer or laptop, with access to the Internet.
- Computer audio output.
- Adobe Reader; and
- A computer mouse.
Who will you learn with?
Who developed the course?
RMIT University
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) is a global university, with over 80,000 students, specialising in technology, design and enterprise.
Established
1887Location
Melbourne, AustraliaWorld ranking
Top 210Source: QS World University Rankings 2022
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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