Course 2008-2009 a.y.

Course Objectives

Interdependence between private enterprises and public institutions is a crucial factor in the evolution of modern economies; it appears in many different forms and is a key variable in international competition. An understanding of the features of the interaction between private companies and public institutions is therefore a key factor in the education of a modern manager. The importance of these skills is further enhanced by globalization, which makes it necessary to understand governmental decision-making processes across different institutional settings. Therefore, the objectives of the course are twofold:

• to understand how business-government relations affect both the strategies and performance of private enterprises on one side and the macro-economic policy formulation and implementation on the other;
• to develop concrete skills to manage these relations effectively (through an ad hoc skill-set at the end of each building block), especially in the international arena, by influencing and participating to public policy making and by interacting with government as a supplier, as a customer and as a consultant.

Course Content Summary

• Understanding business-government relations: a framework for analysis
• Government as a regulator/deregulator at the national and international level
• The analysis of business-related public policy
• The political role of businesses
• Corporate citizenship as an intangible asset
• Business self-regulation and codes of conduct
• Managing public-private partnerships
• Corruption and malpractices: Transparency International and the UN Global Compact
• Informal relationships: institutional relations and lobbying.

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Attending students

Students attending classes on a regular basis will be assessed on the following base:

• Two written group assignments (30% of the final grade). Points that you collect with the group assignments will be considered until July 2008. They are designed in order to make students practice concepts and techniques of Business-Government Relations Management and are based on the practical skill-sets. Instructions will be given in class and posted online. Group assignments must be turned in on the assigned day or wont be graded.
• One written final exam (70% of the final grade). Students that attend lessons are strongly encouraged to sustain the final exam for attending students. In order to pass the exam students have to pass the written exam with a grade of 18/30 and more. Honors ("lode") will be given to those that reach 31. The written exam will be based on class slides and notes and on the Course Collection.

Non attending students

For these students the final mark will be based on a comprehensive written exam, based on the Course Collection and on:

• GROSSE R., International Business and Government Relations in the 21st Century. Cambridge University Press, 2005. Part I and II (p.23-248)

Textbooks

• V. MELE, Managing Business-Government Relations, Course Collection, EGEA, 2007
• R. GROSSE, International Business and Government Relations in the 21st Century. Cambridge University Press, 2005