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GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY Griffith Business School SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS http://www.griffith.edu.au/business-government/griffith-business-school/departments/school-government-international-relations 2004GIR Government Business Relations Gold Coast/Nathan Trimester 2, 2018 Course Convenors: Gold Coast Nathan Lecture: Course Description Success in business is underpinned by a sound understanding of government business relations. Politics is a central feature of our lives – issues such as globalisation, international trade and climate change are the subject of front-page headlines and nightly news bulletins. These issues can have a direct impact on millions of people across the globe. All citizens have a stake in understanding the politics that lie behind these events, and how they are affected by them. For these reasons alone, this course is important – it helps to make sense of the seemingly mystifying and chaotic world we live in. Politics is also critical to business. This is because almost every aspect of the commercial world – from taxation to pollution control and from consumer regulation to employment law – is shaped by political decisions. As a result business success often depends on understanding and successfully engaging in the political process. For this reason, this course is essential for business students. The course explores the impact that government and business have on one another in a national and international context. It asks what consequences these relationships have for both government and business. It will provide insights into how government policies and practice affect business, and how business influences and relates to government, particularly in a period of extended financial crisis. While the Australian political system is used as a point of reference, extensive international comparisons are also made. The course also provides insights into the political practices and business culture of some of Australia’s major trading partners. In order to explore these themes the course initially introduces central concepts in the study of politics and then describes the main institutions and actors in government business relations. Having established this foundation, the course explores government business relations in comparative perspective. It also examines some of the most significant international political issues affecting business including: globalisation, regulation, corporate social responsibility and managing the international economy. Module A: Government and its Effect on Business In this module we examine the political context in which business operates. Since politics has such an important influence on business, a sound understanding of government business relations requires familiarity with the major political institutions, processes and actors. We will explore how political systems are characterised by specific structures that determine how power is allocated amongst the various levels of government. The way a political system is structured is important because it impacts on business in terms of infrastructure and regulations. Furthermore, we will gain an insight into political institutions such as parliament and cabinet, as well as political actors like parties, interest groups and individual politicians; they all play an important role in shaping the political and subsequently the business environment. Module B: Models of Government and Business Interactions In this module we will examine the impact of neoliberalism and globalisation on the interaction between business and government in various contexts, starting with Australia and then examining America, the European Union, China and Japan. In each case we will focus on a different aspect of government business relations, and compare the responses of particular countries to the challenges of dealing with domestic and global economies against the background of globalisation. The challenge has been to provide a pragmatic pathway to manage public disenchantment at home as well as support economic changes that have had significant impacts on governments and business around the globe. Module C: Government Business Relations and Sustainability As government and business are the key actors driving development activities, responsibility for sustainability should now underpin their relationship. This module examines the notion of ‘sustainable governance’. Incorporating the insights of sustainable development, and the broader responsibilities assigned to the corporate sector, sustainable governance seeks to establish an effective partnership between these different political, economic and social elements for the purpose of protecting society and the environment. We identify the challenges of sustainability in the financial, corporate, environmental and industry sectors, and discuss the kinds of governance approaches best able to respond to these challenges. The issue of sustainability highlights business responsibility to their shareholders, government responsibility to their citizens and, in both cases, to the broader society and environment in which they operate. Texts and Supporting Materials Prescribed Text: The Challenges of Government Business Relations in a Global Economy (2018), edited by Giorel Curran and Liz van Acker (Pearson). This is available at the Campus bookshops. Recommended Texts: Beyond the Prescribed Text, the following provide an excellent introduction to politics. Please note that some of these books will be available at the ‘closed reserve’ section in the library. Please check the online catalogue. · Woodward, D., Parkin, A., and Summers, J. (eds) 2013. Government, Politics, Power and Policy in Australia. Frenchs Forest: Pearson Education. · Singleton, G. et al 2012. Australian Political Institutions, 10th edition. Frenchs Forest: Pearson Education. · Ward, I. and Stewart, R.G. 2010. Politics One, 4th edition. South Yarra: Palgrave Macmillan, chapter 1. · Vowels, J. 2016. Globalization and Domestic Politics: parties, elections, and public opinion. Oxford: Oxford University Press. You may be interested in the following ‘how to’ guide which offers useful study hints. · Marshall, L. and Rowland, F. 2006. A Guide to Learning Independently, Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson Education Further Readings Supplementary readings for each topic are listed in a document posted at Learning@Griffith entitled ‘Further Readings for Government Business Relations 2004GIR’, in the ‘Course Documents’ section. Most of these sources are available at one of Griffith’s libraries or on the online database. These readings supplement the set readings and will be useful for tutorial discussions, essays and business submissions. Media Sources Students are encouraged to monitor various media sources throughout the trimester. They could collect newspaper articles or check various web sites for the latest news regarding issues covered in the course. The Australian Financial Review and The Australian are good sources for daily news and comment on government business dynamics, and may also be relevant for your assignments. ABC News online, the Sydney Morning Herald, Brisbane Times and The Guardian are also useful news sources. Television programs such as 7.30 (ABC), Insiders (ABC), Global Village (SBS) and Inside Business (ABC) are useful for keeping abreast of current issues. You should also consult a range of journals, periodicals and business magazines to keep informed about recent developments and key issues. Learning@Griffith Valuable resources are also contained at the Learning@Griffith website, which for the rest of this document will be referred to as L@G. They include important announcements, lectures, assessment guidelines and additional sources like important websites. L@G will be updated regularly and should be checked regularly. L@G is, however, an additional source of information and it is not a substitute for attending lectures and tutorials. The lectures outlines posted provide only the key themes from each lecture. Past surveys of this course have revealed a very strong relationship between lecture attendance and success in the subject. Assessment Summary 1. WORKSHOPS 10% Based on attendance AND ability to cooperate in class discussion with evidence of satisfactory completion of the required reading, and any other activities as requested by your tutor. For Workshop enquiries contact your tutor. 2. MULIPLE CHOICE QUIZ 10% The multiple choice quiz will consist of 10 questions covering the content from Module One: topics 1 (Introduction), 2 and 3. The test will be open to students at the end of week 3 and the due date for its completion will be the end of week 5. Due Date: Friday 10 August 10 pm. Completed online. 3. BUSINESS SUBMISSION OR ESSAY 1500 words 40% Please see further in this Course Guide for Business Submission topics and Essay topics. Students have a choice of doing either a Business Submission or Essay. Minimum of 8 references required for both business submission and essay. Due Friday 14 September (Week 9) 10:00pm. Submit online. 4. WORKSHOP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 40% Students will be required to answer 10 questions chosen from the Workshop Discussion Questions for Modules Two and Three of the course - lecture weeks 4-10. This assignment will be distributed to students (on Learning@Griffith) on Monday 17 September (Week 10) Due: Friday 5th October 2018 10 pm. Submit online. Assessment – General Information Submission Students must be able to produce an electronic copy of