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2015/2016  BA-BKOMV6001U  Crisis communication – a simulation in the real world and Cyberspace

English Title
Crisis communication – a simulation in the real world and Cyberspace

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Elective
Level Bachelor
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Autumn
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Max. participants 50
Study board
Study Board for BSc/MSc in Business Administration and Organizational Communication, BSc
Course coordinator
  • Betty Tsakarestou - Department of Intercultural Communication and Management (ICM)
  • Karl-Heinz Pogner - Department of Intercultural Communication and Management (ICM)
Main academic disciplines
  • Communication
  • Management
  • Organization
Last updated on 16-02-2015
Learning objectives
To achieve the grade 12, students should meet the following learning objectives with no or only minor mistakes or errors:
  • Analyze and explain the importance of crisis communication and management in a crisis-driven world.
  • Understand and develop skills to communicate with the media before, during and after a crisis.
  • Collaborate effectively with key stakeholders in the context of a real-world Crisis Preparedness and Crisis Communication simulation.
  • Apply and develop concepts and frameworks to analyze and adopt a reflective approach on global issues, stakes and challenges that trigger reputational crisis for businesses, organizations and communities.
  • Undertake scenario planning (issues matrix, crisis scenario planning, worst case scenarios) as part of Crisis Preparedness and Crisis Evaluation.
  • Implement and evaluate a solid and valid methodology of crisis management and crisis communication planning in a real-world context, organized as simulation, both offline and on digital media and platforms.
Course prerequisites
A solid knowledge about communicaton and organization theory and practice.
Prerequisites for registering for the exam
Number of mandatory activities: 2
Compulsory assignments (assessed approved/not approved)
Media training (oral contribution)

Requirements about active class participation (assessed approved/not approved)
Assessment of active participation in course (min 80% participation; obligatory in media training and simulation).
Examination
Crisis Communication and Social media:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Home assignment - written product
Individual or group exam Individual
Assignment has has two parts: a) case analysis on the basis of thory and research; b) refelctions on the case on the basis of the simulation
Size of written product Max. 10 pages
Assignment type Written assignment
Duration Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
Grading scale 7-step scale
Examiner(s) One internal examiner
Exam period Winter
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Course content and structure

We are living in a crisis-driven world. Organizations and institutions, corporate leaders, social sector organizations, cities, communities and states, even families and individuals, are experiencing the turmoil and the turbulences of a life “out of control”. Environmental, financial, food or humanistic crises, accidents and corporate governance failures, frauds and political crisis are signaling the new “normality”.

 

The most common approach to crisis communication and crisis management is to be perceived as a “special situation”, where reputational and financial issues are mostly at risk. The Crisis Communication and Crisis Management fields have been developed as disciplines to keep open a critical discussion on how we may prevent major societal, institutional, organizational or economic failures and as a prolific consultancy business work on the premise that a “crisis” can be “contained” and “controlled” or at least “managed” as long as we implement sound methodologies and expertise. In this course we take different or opposed theoretical, managerial, media- empowered routes to explore what a crisis is and how we as citizens and professionals and organizational or community leaders can prepare our way out of a crisis and into a more sustainable and liveable future – even when lacking “control” over the media

 

We discuss and take a hands-on approach on crisis communication. A crisis communication simulation (scenario) will give us the opportunity to develop new capabilities and mindsets to deal with how to prevent and resolve a crisis situation, following a sound and internationally acclaimed methodology. We will set the stage to act upon an almost real scenario and in real time, offline and in digital / social media. 

Tentative course structure:

Intensive Workshop weekend (introduction)

a)Talking about crisis. Myth, realities, challenges. Crisis as the new “normality”.

Smith, D. and Elliott, D. 2006. Crisis Management. Systems and Structures for Prevention and Recovery. London: Routledge.

Coombs, W. Timothy & Sherry J. Holladay (eds.): The Handbook of Crisis Communication. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.

Sellnow, Timothy & Matthew W Seeger (2013): Theorizing crisis communication (Foundations of communication theory.  Chichester: Wiley Blackwell


Crisis Case Studies
 

– mixing theory and practice learning outcomes. Case studies from diverse sectors: Environment, business, food sector, government, media/social media-driven crisis, fraud/corruption, financial crisis, humanitarian disasters, etc.
 
Anthonissen, P. (Ed.) 2008 Crisis Communication: Practical PR Strategies for Reputation Management and Company Survival, Kogan Page.

Umer, R., Sellnow, T., and Seeger, M. 2010. Effective Crisis Communication: Moving from Crisis to Opportunity. Sage Publications

Coombs, W. Timothy & Sherry J. Holladay (eds.): The Handbook of Crisis Communication. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
 

Capozzi; Louis (2013): Crisis Management in the Age of Social Media (Public Relations Collection) [ Paperback or e-book (Kindle / Nook)] Business Expert Press

 

Weekly classes and group work:

 

Preparing for a crisis

Issues Management and Situation Analysis

Anthonissen, P. (Ed.) 2008 Crisis Communication: Practical PR Strategies for Reputation Management and Company Survival, Kogan Page.
 
Smith, D. and Elliott, D. 2006. Crisis Management. Systems and Structures for Prevention and Recovery.  Routledge.

 
Types of Crisis and Crisis evolution –

Your Case studies
 

The students take the floor and present their own selected and researched crisis case studies.
All cases will be uploaded and shared on Learn.
 
 

Media Communication and Media Training
Live Media Training on Camera training for students
 
Anthonissen, P. (Ed.) 2008 Crisis Communication: Practical PR Strategies for Reputation Management and Company Survival, Kogan Page.

Social Media Engagement and Crisis Communication in action.
 

White, C. 2011, Social Media, Crisis Communication and Emergency Management: Leveraging Web 2.0 Technologies. CRC Press.

Capozzi; Louis (2013): Crisis Management in the Age of Social Media (Public Relations Collection) [ Paperback or e-bbok (Kindle / Nook)] Business Expert Press

Crisis Management and Crisis Communication Methodology
 

Anthonissen, P. (Ed.) 2008 Crisis Communication: Practical PR Strategies for Reputation Management and Company Survival, Kogan Page.

Umer, R., Sellnow, T., and Seeger, M. 2010. Effective Crisis Communication: Moving from Crisis to Opportunity. Sage Publications
 
 

Crisis Simulation Game

(3 days, in cooperation the Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Department of Communication, Media and Culture, Athens, Greece)
 

Organizing for a Crisis Simulation. Assess Protocols. Students are informed about the crisis scenario, form teams, take up their roles and prepare for the crisis simulation game.
 

 
The crisis is evolving during three days offline and online. Students should be “always on” to follow up and act upon new information, identify and prioritize actions required, resolve conflicts of interest and try to retain control. I requires writing and uploading content on digital platforms and active participation at the concluding event (simulation of a media conference).
 

Anthonissen, P. (Ed.) 2008 Crisis Communication: Practical PR Strategies for Reputation Management and Company Survival, Kogan Page.
 
Capozzi; Louis (2013): Crisis Management in the Age of Social Media Media (Public Relations Collection) [ Paperback or e-bbok (Kindle / Nook)]: Business Expert Press.

Sellnow, Timothy & Matthew W Seeger (2013): Theorizing crisis communication (Foundations of communication theory.  Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.

Smith, D. and Elliott, D. 2006. Crisis Management. Systems and Structures for Prevention and Recovery.  Routledge
 

White, C. 2011: Social Media, Crisis Communication and Emergency Management: Leveraging Web 2.0 Technologies. CRC Press.
 

 


 
Teaching methods
Lectures (including guest lectures / guest webinars), exercises, cases, group work, experienced-based learning in simulation and scenario (developed together with the Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Department of Communication, Media and Culture, Advertising and Public Relations Lab, Athens, Greece and corporate partners from business and communication industry).
Student workload
Introductory intensive work shop-weekend (1 1/2 days) 15 hours
Preparation for workshop 30 hours
weekly classes 21 hours
Preparation for weekly classes 63 hours
group work (outside class) 14 hours
media traing (incl. prep) (3 days) 10 hours
Simulation 30 hours
Exam 40 hours
Further Information

The course consists of an intensiveworkshop in the beginning of September, weekly classes and group work, a media training session and a crisis-simulation/ scenario.
 

Tentative dates:
Introductory workshop: week 37/38

Weekly classes (7x3): during weeks 38/39-47/48 and 49 

media training: week  45/46

simulation: week 47/48
Expected literature

Compulsary text book:

Capozzi; Louis (2013): Crisis Management in the Age of Social Media (Public Relations Collection) [ Paperback or e-book ] Business Expert Press


A Reader with excerpts from recent research:

Anthonissen, Peter Frans (ed.): (2008) Crisis Communication: Practical PR Strategies for Reputation Management and Company Survival: London: Kogan Page.
 
Coombs, W. Timothy & Sherry J. Holladay (eds.): The Handbook of Crisis Communication. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.

Umer, R., Sellnow, T., and Seeger, M. 2010. Effective Crisis Communication: Moving from Crisis to Opportunity.  Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Smith, D. and Elliott, D. 2006. Crisis Management. Systems and Structures for Prevention and Recovery. London & New York: Routledge.

White, C. 2011, Social Media, Crisis Communication and Emergency Management: Leveraging Web 2.0 Technologies. London: Taylor and Francis:  CRC Press.
Last updated on 16-02-2015