PPM9330

Business and government

You will be challenged in this subject to develop your thinking on the inter-relationships between two of the most significant sectors of society's organisation -- relationships in which you will unavoidably be involved. We will consider the increasingly complex, intertwined relationships -- relationships which may also involve the not-for-profit sector. You will share this experience with other students of Australian and foreign backgrounds, drawing on their experiences in all spheres of government, the non-profit sector and the private sectors. We will look at the bases of the relationships between business and government in the local, regional State, national and international spheres -- e.g., regulation of corporations and other business entities; National Competition Policy; other statutory provisions; government business enterprises, privatisation and the regulation of industry sectors; industry policy; political decisions affecting contractual and other matters; business input to policy; informal relationships. We will examine issues of ethics, accountablity and probity which apply to both the interaction of business and government and to each of them separately. Amongst these issues, the problems of reconciling transparency (required as a part of government's accountability) with concepts such as 'commercial in confidence' will be studied, taking into account the very different approaches to these issues in various countries. On successful completion, you will be better equipped to make decisions and provide advice where business and government interact.

Back to the 1999 Distance Education Handbook