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BUSI44I15: Crisis Management (Online)

It is possible that changes to modules or programmes might need to be made during the academic year, in response to the impact of Covid-19 and/or any further changes in public health advice.

Type Tied
Level 4
Credits 15
Availability Not available in 2024/2025
Module Cap
Location Durham
Department Management and Marketing

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • Crisis Management (Taught)

Aims

  • To explore the nature of crises and crisis management strategies
  • To understand the key related areas of risk assessment, human intervention and organisational turnaround
  • To examine the strategic and operational implications of crisis management planning

Content

  • The nature of Crisis Management
  • Modelling the Crisis Process
  • The Crisis-Prone Organisation
  • The Nature of Human Error
  • Organisational Failures
  • The Nature of a Safety Culture
  • Post-Crisis Turnaround Strategies
  • Developing the Crisis-Prepared Organisation
  • Developing and evaluating a Crisis Management Strategy

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • By the end of the module students should:
  • have a critical understanding of the nature and principal concepts in crisis and risk management;
  • have a grounded understanding of various individual and organisational factors contributing to crisis-proneness, preparedness and crisis management success;
  • have a critical appreciation of the components of a successful crisis management plan.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • By the end of the module students should:
  • be able to identify the main phases in crisis development, the pre-cursors of each, and the relationships between them;
  • be able to identify a potential crisis portfolio for an organisation;
  • be able to analyse appropriate corporate strategies for crisis and risk management.

Key Skills:

  • Effective written communication skills
  • Planning, organising and time management skills
  • Problem solving and analytical skills
  • The ability to use initiative
  • Advanced skills in the interpretation of data
  • Advanced computer literacy skills

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • The module is delivered via online learning, divided up into study weeks with specially produced resources within each week. Resources vary according to the learning outcomes but normally include: video content, directed reading, reflection through activities, opportunities for self-assessment and peer-to-peer learning within a tutor-facilitated discussion board. Tutors provide feedback on formative work and facilitate discussion board communication as well as being available for individual consultation as necessary (usually by email and Skype).
  • The summative assessment of the module is designed to test the acquisition and articulation of knowledge and critical understanding, and skills of application and interpretation within the business context.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Video content, directed reading, self-assessed assignments and guidance for further reading150 
Total150 

Summative Assessment

Component: Written AssignmentComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Individual written report, based on the analysis of risks to an organisation and preparation of a crisis management plan4,000 words maximum100Same

Formative Assessment

A written assignment of 1,500 words, or its multimedia equivalent, which may involve some group work.

More information

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Current Students: Please contact your department.