Washington Business the World

0-1.5 Credits · Level: Graduate

This course seeks to broaden and reinforce students’ understanding of the theory and practice of the nonmarket environment. It does so by focusing on the application of nonmarket strategy. The course blends classroom instruction with attendance at events in Washington, DC, home to key players and places in the nonmarket environment – government agencies, policymakers, government officials, international bodies, global business leaders, industry associations, and nongovernmental organizations. Students are exposed to the nation’s capital, which offers unmatched opportunities to explore and experience firsthand the nonmarket environment from the perspective of the firm and its managers. Through attendance at “business and public policy” events, students observe up close the interactions among, and themselves may interact directly with, business leaders, government officials, members of Congress and other policymakers, members of interest groups and industry alliances, and the media. Classroom sessions feature lectures, case studies, and prominent guest speakers with substantial nonmarket experience and leadership roles. In addition, students select among a number of rich and varied events held on and off campus sponsored by the MSB centers and programs, other Georgetown schools and programs, federal agencies and Congressional committees, think tanks (e.g., Brookings, CSIS), and industry associations, among others. Students will learn (1) to recognize nonmarket issues and dynamics; to identify nonmarket interests and players; to understand how institutions establish rules and interests and compete to influence the rules; and to appreciate what informs nonmarket issues; (2) to gain a deeper understanding of the complexity of the nonmarket environment to inform business decision making and leadership; (3) to gain a broader sense of applications of the study of business, policy, and global affairs drawing on the DC advantage; and (4) to hone writing skills – brief, cogent prose – through reflection and response assignments.