Business at the Private-Public Intersection (KSB 609-001)

Fall Semester 2016

Faculty Name: Heather Elms

Office Location: KSB 222

Faculty E-mail: elms@american.edu

Phone: 202-885-1965

Office Hours: By appointment (best made by email)

Preferred contact: E-mail or Skype

@ locsikutyus

Class Time & Location:

Monday, 08/29/16 through Friday, 09/09/16 (not including Monday, 09/07/16): 8:30am-5:15pm
Classroom Times and Locations (these do not include site visits and guest speakers at other
times/locations):
Monday,Wednesday,Thursday: 8:30am-11:00am KSB 233
Tuesday, Friday:
2:30pm- 5:20pm KSB 118
Course description (from AU 2016-17 Catalog):
Understanding the role of business requires understanding its role relative to other economic,
social, and political institutions. This course helps students understand business within the
broader global private and public environment, and encourages them to be managers and leaders
of businesses that create value in both environments.

Prerequisites: Enrollment in MBA Program.

Note: In addition to readings and lectures (including by guest practitioners), this course relies on
site visits to both private and public institutions throughout the DC metropolitan region,
including private companies, public private partnerships, government agencies, multilateral
organizations, and non-governmental organizations.

Learning objectives (from AU 2016-17 Catalog):

Students are aware of the history and various roles of business.

Students are able to identify opportunities for business to contribute to both the private
and public sectors in economic, social, and political ways.
Students are able to identify stakeholders and understand the complex environment in
which businesses must recognize and respond to competing stakeholder demands.
Students can critically evaluate and identify contributors to business performance.
Students understand their legal responsibilities as executives.
Students will be able to identify ethical challenges and understand the importance of
behaving ethically in their professional lives.

Required reading:
Regular reading of the Financial Times and/or The Wall Street Journal, as well as other wellregarded business (e.g., The Economist, BusinessWeek, Fast Company) and general interest
publications (including The New York Times, The New Yorker, Harpers Magazine) is required.
Many are available on-line via AUs library website.
Other required readings and lecture notes will be posted on Blackboard. Students should also
check Blackboard frequently for announcements and either check their AU email or make sure
that it is forwarded to an address that they check frequently.
Course Requirements & Grading:
In-Class Quizzes on Readings, Lectures, Visits, & Guest Speakers

30%

Short (e.g., 5-question) quizzes may be administered in class on any day we meet. These quizzes
will be focused on the main points made by the readings, lectures, visits, and guest speakers.

Team Case Study Writing Proposal

20%

Student teams will select an organization based in the Washington, DC area and operating
at the business intersection of the private and public sectors. This organization may be
one of the organizations we visit and/or have a guest speaker from as part of the class, or
a similar one. The choice of organization must be approved by Professor Elms. Students
teams will then prepare a proposal for writing a case about this organization, and provide
a 10 minute presentation (plus 5 minutes for questions and answers) and 1 page
description of the proposal on the final day of class (8:30-11:30am, Friday, September 9,
2016). The final case will be due in MGT 609: Management of Organizations and
Human Capital.
Engagement
50%
Your engagement is critical for making this course a rich learning environment. Engagement
includes a variety of factors such as:

(Engagement, continued)

Attendance: Everyone is expected to be on time and attend all classes. Repeated

tardiness will prevent you from receiving a grade of 3 (see below) for each day you are
late.
Reading the assigned material and participating actively and constructively in class
discussions about it.
Actively and constructively participating in other class (including lecture, visit, and guest
speaker) discussions.
Not using electronic devices (e.g., computers, mobile phones) for purposes not supportive
of your engagement in the class.

Daily class engagement will be graded on a 0 to 3 scale as follows:

3
2
1
0

Excellent engagement: enthusiastically participated in class discussions, clearly prepared

assigned material and thought about it
Some engagement, but not clearly enthusiastic or prepared
Attended but did not engage
Absent

At the end of the course, all students will have the opportunity to evaluate the engagement of
other students. Poor evaluations by other students will negatively affect your final engagement
grade.
The following point distribution will be used to determine your grade:
A
= 94.0% - 100%
C+
= 77.0% - 79.9%
A= 90.0% - 93.9%
C
= 74.0% - 76.9%
B+
= 87.0% - 89.9%
C= 70.0% - 73.9%
B
= 84.0% - 86.9%
D
= 60.0% - 69.9%
B= 80.0% - 83.9%
F
= 59.9% and below
Missed Classes/Quizzes/Late Assignments:
If you are absent from class, you will receive a 0 for the time of your absence. If that absence is
associated with a quiz you are unable to take given your absence, you will additionally receive a
0 for the quiz. Late case proposal outlines will not be accepted, and all group members must
participate in the presentation of the case proposal on Friday, September 9, 8:30-11:30am.

KSB 609 Class Schedule

The following course schedule may be amended during the course. All readings are available on the Blackboard course page under Course
Reserves. Additional and/or alternative readings may be assigned and provided. Please check Blackboard regularly for updates. If you are
absent or late to class, it is your responsibility to check with your classmates about announcements made during class.
Day

Time

Location

Content

Reading/Notes

Monday,
08/29

8:3010:00am

KSB 233

Introduction to the Course & Syllabus.

Please read the syllabus before class.

11:00am3:00pm

Visit to
Deloitte
(Arlington,
VA office).

Deloitte & Business at the Private-Public

Intersection.

Deloitte Digital Studio

Deloitte Greenhouse
Note: Chartered bus will depart Kogod at
10am and depart Deloitte at 3:00pm. Just
in case, the office (at 1919 N. Lynn Street)
is near the Rosslyn metro stop.

Tuesday,
08/30

8:309:30am

KCCD
Student
Lounge

The History & Role of the Corporation.

9:3010:30am

KCCD
Student
Lounge

Public-Private Partnerships.

11:30am2:30pm

Visit to
Capitol
Riverfront

Michael Ryan, Planning Analyst

Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District

4:005:00pm

Visit to
Greater
Washington
Board of
Trade

James Dinegar, President & CEO, Greater

Washington Board of Trade

Guest Speaker: Professor Thomas White, Kogod

Executive in Residence and Co-Founder and
former CEO and Director of the Institute for
Public-Private Partnerships (IP3).

Robert Sweeney, Special Assistant to the Dean,

Kogod Business in the Capital initiative

Micklethwait, J. & Wooldridge, A., 2005.

The Company: A Short History of a
Revolutionary Idea. New York: Random
House. Chapter 3, A Prolonged and
Painful Birth, 1750-1862 (p.37-54).
http://www.governing.com/topics/transpor
tation-infrastructure/gov-public-privatepopular.html
http://www.governing.com/topics/finance/
gov-public-private-partnerships-inamerica.html
http://blogs.wsj.com/developments/2014/0
8/19/skanskas-u-s-chief-sees-more-publicprivate-infrastructure-to-come/
http://www.capitolriverfront.org
Note: Chartered bus will depart Kogod at
10:45am. Just in case, the office (1100
New Jersey Avenue, SE Suite 1010)
is near the Navy Yard metro stop.
http://www.bot.org/
Note: Chartered bus will depart Capitol
Riverfront at 3:15pm for GWBT (800
Connecticut Ave, NW, Suite 1001, near
the Farragut West and North metro stops).
Chartered bus will depart GWBT at 5pm
back to Kogod.

Wednesday,
08/31

8:3010:30am

Stakeholder Management & Corporate

Responsibility.

No KSB 609
on Wednesday
afternoon, but
Leadership
Luncheon 12-2
and KCCD
from 2pm.

10:3011:30am

Thursday,
09/01

8:3010:00am

KSB 233

Performance Measurement & the Legal

Responsibilities of Executives.

10:0011:30am

KSB 233

Managerial Professionalism

KSB 233

Freeman, R. E. 2013. Managing for

Stakeholders. Darden Business
Publishing, University of Virginia, UVAE-0383 (a technical note).

Discussion of Team Case Study assignment

(presentation and written proposal due on the last
day of class, Friday, September 11)
Guest Speaker: Professor Mark Clark (MGMT
609: Management of Organizations & Human
Capital).

2-4pm

Stout, L., 2012. The Shareholder Value

Myth: How Putting Shareholders First
Harms Investors, Corporations, and the
Public. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler
Publishers. Chapters 1-4 (p. 1-60).
Khurana, R. & Nohria, N. 2008. Its Time
to Make Management a True Profession.
Harvard Business Review October: 70-77.

TBA

Friday,
09/02

10:30am12:00pm

2-3:30pm

KSB
Student
Lounge

KSB 118

Business-NGO Relationships.
Guest Speaker: Rebecca DeWinter-Schmitt,
Ph.D., Co-Director, Human Rights in Business
Program, Center for Human Rights and
Humanitarian Law, American University
Washington College of Law.

Libby Harrison, Director of Programming,

Investigation Discovery, Discovery
Communications, Inc.

Yaziji, M. and Doh, J., 2009. NGOs and

Corporations: Conflict and
Collaboration. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press. Chapter 7, CorporateNGO Engagements: From Conflict to
Collaboration (p. 123-145).
Ruggie, J., 2011. Guiding Principles
on Business and Human Rights:
Implementing the Protect, Respect &
Remedy Framework. United Nations,
March 21 2011, A/HRC/17/31.
http://corporate.discovery.com/

Monday, 09/05

No class: Labor Day Holiday

Tuesday,
09/06

9:3011:30am

Wednesday,
09/07
No KSB 609 on
Wednesday
afternoon,but
Leadership
Luncheon 122pm and KCBC
from 2pm.

Visit to
Securities &
Exchange
Commission

Business-Government Relationships.

Afternoon

Independent
study

9:3010:30am

Visit to
Bloomberg
Government

Work on final presentations in preparation for

KCBC coaching opportunity on Wednesday
afternoon
Anthony Costello, Head of Product, Bloomberg
Government
Will Matthews, Bloomberg Government Data
Team Manager

Guest Speakers: To be announced.

Vogel, D. 1981. The New Social

Regulation in Historical and Comparative
Perspective, in Thomas McGraw, Ed.,
Regulation in Perspective: Historical
Essays, Cambridge: Harvard University.
Note: The SEC is next to Union Station,
and we will meet at the 100 F Street
entrance to the SEC at 9am.

http://about.bgov.com/
Note: Chartered bus will depart Kogod
at 8:45am and return to Kogod at
10:30am. Just in case, the office (1101 K.
Street NW, Suite 500)
is near the Metro Center metro stop.

Thursday, 09/08

8:309:00am

KSB 233

10am-12pm
1:30-3pm

Team Case Writing Proposal Discussion.

TBA

Visit to
Human Rights
Watch.

Guest Speaker: Arvind Ganesan, Director,

Business and Human Rights Division.

See again: Ruggie, J., 2011. Guiding

Principles on Business and Human
Rights: Implementing the Protect,
Respect & Remedy Framework. United
Nations, March 21 2011, A/HRC/17/31.
Note: Note: Chartered bus will depart
Kogod at 1:00pm and return to Kogod at
3pm. Just in case HRW is located at 1630
Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 500, near
the Dupont Circle metro stop.

Friday,
09/09
No KSB 609 on
Friday afternoon.

8:3011:30am

KCCD
Student
Lounge

Team Case Writing Proposal Presentations

Guest Evaluator: Professor Mark Clark (MGMT
609: Management of Organizations & Human
Capital).

Academic Integrity Code

Academic integrity is paramount in higher education and essential to effective teaching and learning. As
a professional school, the Kogod School of Business is committed to preparing our students and graduates
to value the notion of integrity. In fact, no issue at American University is more serious or addressed with
greater severity than a breach of academic integrity.
Standards of academic conduct are governed by the Universitys Academic Integrity Code. By enrolling
in the School and registering for this course, you acknowledge your familiarity with the Code and pledge
to abide by it. All suspected violations of the Code will be immediately referred to the Office of the
Dean. Disciplinary action, including failure for the course, suspension, or dismissal, may result.
Additional information about the Code (i.e. acceptable forms of collaboration, definitions of plagiarism,
use of sources including the Internet, and the adjudication process) can be found in a number of places
including the Universitys Academic Regulations, Student Handbook, and website at
<http://www.american.edu/academics/integrity>. If you have any questions about academic integrity or
standards of conduct in this course, please discuss them with your instructor.

Academic Support Services

If you experience difficulty in this course for any reason, please dont hesitate to consult with
me. In addition to the resources of the department, a wide range of services is available to
support you in your efforts to meet the course requirements.
Academic Support Center (x3360, MGC 243) offers study skills workshops, individual
instruction, tutor referrals, and services for students with learning disabilities. Writing support is
available in the ASC Writing Lab or in the Writing Center, Battelle 228.
Counseling Center (x3500, MGC 214) offers counseling and consultations regarding personal
concerns, self-help information, and connections to off-campus mental health resources.
Disability Support Services (x3315, MGC 206) offers technical and practical support and
assistance with accommodations for students with physical, medical, or psychological
disabilities. If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please notify me in a
timely manner with a letter from the Academic Support Center or Disability Support Services so
that we can make arrangements to address your needs.
Kogod Center for Business Communications (x1920, KSB 101) To improve your writing,
public speaking, and team assignments for this class, contact the Kogod Center for Business
Communications. You can get advice for any written or oral assignment or for any type of
business communication, including memos, reports, individual and team presentations, and
PowerPoint slides. Hours are flexible and include evenings. Go to
http://www.kogod.american.edu/cbc and click on "make an appointment," visit KSB 101, or
email cbc@american.edu. You may also call x1920.
Financial Services and Information Technology Lab (FSIT) (x1904, KSB T51) to excel in
your course work and to maximize your business information literacy in preparation for your
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chosen career paths, we strongly recommend to take advantage of all software applications,
databases and workshops in the FSIT Lab. The FSIT Lab promotes action-based learning
through the use of real time market data and analytical tools used by business professionals in the
market place. These include Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters, Argus Commercial Real Estate,
Compustat, CRSP, @Risk etc. For more information, please check out the website at
Kogod.american.edu/fsit/ or send us an email to fsitlab@american.edu.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOR DISRUPTION OF CLASSES

In the event of an emergency, American University will implement a plan for meeting the needs
of all members of the university community. Should the university be required to close for a
period of time, we are committed to ensuring that all aspects of our educational programs will be
delivered to our students. These may include altering and extending the duration of the
traditional term schedule to complete essential instruction in the traditional format and/or use of
distance instructional methods. Specific strategies will vary from class to class, depending on
the format of the course and the timing of the emergency. Faculty will communicate classspecific information to students via AU e-mail and Blackboard, while students must inform their
faculty immediately of any absence. Students are responsible for checking their AU e-mail
regularly and keeping themselves informed of emergencies. In the event of an emergency,
students should refer to the AU Student Portal, the AU Web site
(http://www.american.edu/emergency/) and the AU information line at (202) 885-1100 for
general university-wide information, as well as contact their faculty and/or respective deans
office for course and school/ college-specific information.

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