Issues Management and Public Affairs are essential, interconnected disciplines that help organisations effectively navigate the complex interface between business and society. Together, they underscore the importance of addressing societal and political challenges, which are critical to maintaining an organisation’s societal license to operate and achieving long-term success.
This course is offered by Rotterdam School of Management b.v.. For more information about the legal structure of Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, visit this page.
Issues Management provides a structured approach to identifying and tackling areas of societal contention that stem from a company’s business model and strategy. This multidisciplinary effort requires collaboration across corporate functions to comprehensively address stakeholder concerns. Core aspects of Issues Management include environmental scanning to detect emerging challenges, strategic positioning to align with stakeholder interests, and the proactive use of communication strategies and platform-building to manage issues effectively.
Public Affairs, on the other hand, focuses on integrating market and non-market strategies to address political and regulatory challenges. Public Affairs teams play a crucial role in navigating the public policy process, transforming potential threats into opportunities, and ensuring the organisation’s actions align with societal and governmental expectations.
By combining the proactive insights of Issues Management with the strategic alignment offered by Public Affairs, organisations can respond to societal changes with agility and foresight. This integrated approach positions them for sustained success in an increasingly dynamic and interconnected world.
By participating in this course you will:
This course is designed for professionals who work at the intersection of business, society, and politics or seeking to understand these external pressures. It is ideal for those tasked with addressing societal expectations, managing stakeholder relationships, or navigating political and regulatory challenges that impact their organisation's operations and reputation.
Whether you are involved in public affairs, corporate communication, sustainability, or strategic planning, this course provides the tools and insights needed to manage social and political issues effectively. Participants will gain practical knowledge to strengthen their organisation's ability to respond to external challenges and align with societal expectations for long-term success.
The classroom comprises of a diverse group of accomplished, driven and open-minded professionals from Europe and beyond, working in various management positions in the public and private sector, NGOs and consultancies.
Participants in this course are recommended to hold at least a bachelor degree.
Participants in this course are recommended to at least 3+ years of work experience.
Jean-Philippe Bonardi is a Professor of Strategic Management and Co-Managing Director of the Enterprise for Society Center (E4S). From 2015 to 2021, he served as Dean of HEC Lausanne, the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Lausanne.
3-5 June 2025
09.00-17.00
€3,600 including tuition, course material, lunches and refreshments. This fee does not include hotel accommodation.
The programme takes place in the Bayle building on the Woudestein Campus of Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Our general terms and conditions apply when you register for an open programme. Please review them to learn more about our policies for cancellation, deferral and substitution.
The participant can be substituted by someone from the same organisation on the same course without extra costs.
This course can also be taken as part of RSM's part-time Executive Master in Corporate Communication, a flexible and accredited master programme for professionals.
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