Business & Policy Initiative

We repeatedly observe top executives caught off-guard when faced with “nonmarket” threats such as proposed government regulations or activist pres- sure. But the concept of strategy beyond markets extends further than reactively responding to threats. Managers also have the opportunity to shape the nonmarket environment in ways that advantage their firm. In this course, we will develop a framework for constructing nonmarket strategies and integrating them with market strategies. We will cover a broad range of topics, including the legislative process, regulation, activism, corporate social responsibility, and crisis management. We will also study the special challenges facing global firms and innovative firms. Class sessions will be highly interactive and will emphasize the real-world applicability of the frame-works and theories we discuss in class.

Macroeconomics is the study of how economies grow and fluctuate over time, and how they interact with one another. In this course, we discuss economic measurement, economic growth, and the business cycle. We also discuss the implication of modern theories of growth and fluctuation for the conduct of monetary policy and fiscal policy. There is a strong emphasis on the international linkage among economies and the implications of macroeconomics for the business environment.

This course deals with business ethics and the social responsibility of business organizations. Through class discussions and case studies, students explore the theory and practice of business ethics and develop their ability to recognize and address ethical issues. The course equips students with analytical skills in ethical reasoning and provides them with a substantive framework to deal with ethical challenges they are likely to encounter in their careers. Topics include corporate responsibilities vis-à-vis employees, customers, and society; insider trading; discrimination in employment and in the sharing economy; advertising and sales tactics; ethics in pricing; bribery; executive pay; intellectual property in the pharmaceutical industry; censorship; health care resource allocation; and environmental responsibilities.

This course surveys the law of contracts, agency, and business associations – with the objective of developing familiarity with selected laws, regulations, legal principles, and legal processes that govern (a) efficient exchange, generally; and (b) how and in what ways managers and entrepreneurs organize and interact to facilitate exchange. Although emphasis will be on United States law, there will be selected reference throughout the course to issues related to international transactions and to pertinent differences in legal systems of countries outside the United States. The course has a distinct transactional focus, with heavy reliance upon contemporary cases, commercial practices, and issues. Particular attention will be given to the impact of the legal framework upon sound managerial decision-making, business risk management, commercial rights and responsibilities, and ultimately business valuation.

Tech firms—from start-ups to industry leaders—face a range of ethical and policy challenges. Start-ups may face barriers to entry or regulations ill-suited to their innovation. Industry leaders have to consider antitrust considerations if they dominate a market. And tech firms of all sizes face ethical quandaries on issues such as artificial intelligence, to give just one example. The globalization of business adds to the complexity of these policy and ethical considerations. This course will equip you with the tools you need to consider the policy and ethical environments of tech firms and how they connect with firms’ market environments. The tools you develop in the course will also be applicable to the analysis of other types of firms. Class sessions will be highly interactive and will emphasize the real-world applicability of the frameworks and theories we discuss in class.

The Simon DC Fellowship is an annual award given to a Simon Business School student or team to pursue Washington, DC area-based research or a similar project that focuses on the intersection of government and business.