Resilience & Leadership: Concepts, Definitions, & Frameworks from Coursera

Resilience & Leadership: Concepts, Definitions, & Frameworks is the first course in the specialization ‘Resilience Engineering and Leadership in Crisis’. The course introduces the common terms, definitions, and concepts that characterize resilient systems. Frameworks for resilience engineering and leadership in crisis are applied to complex systems and the built environment. Learners will explore a holistic approach to critical infrastructure resilience and apply a hazard and threat assessment protocol to a project scenario.

This course can be taken for academic credit as part of CU Boulder’s Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (ME-EM) degree offered on the Coursera platform. The ME-EM is designed to help engineers, scientists, and technical professionals move into leadership and management roles in the engineering and technical sectors. With performance-based admissions and no application process, the ME-EM is ideal for individuals with a broad range of undergraduate education and/or professional experience. Learn more about the ME-EM program at https://www.coursera.org/degrees/me-engineering-management-boulder.

What's inside

Syllabus

Resilience Concepts and Definitions

Welcome to the first course of the Resilience & Leadership series. We will get started right away by defining key concepts that will be touched upon throughout this course: resilience, resilience engineering, the built environment, and critical infrastructure. After, you will see examples of the four cornerstones of resilience that can characterize the response of a complex system to unanticipated disruptions. You will consider multiple perspectives of resilience that present an alternative to traditional risk analysis. Then, we'll discuss a holistic approach to resilience using an Integral framework. The framework is an important tool that will be referenced throughout this specialization, and applies directly to Resilience Engineering and Leadership in Crisis. Let's get started!

Resilience Engineering, Crisis Management, & Critical Infrastructure Frameworks

This module introduces more resilience concepts, tools, and frameworks. First, we’ll examine an expansion of Hollnagel’s work with four socio-technical processes to describe the resilience of a complex system. You will be introduced to the definition of a crisis, and a framework for crisis management as a strategic process. The framework covers landscape survey, strategic planning, crisis management, and organizational learning from both internal and external perspectives. Finally, we’ll continue our review of critical infrastructure resilience policy framework established by the DHS (Department of Homeland Security).

Resilience of Complex Systems, Disaster Events, & Threat Identification

Sully Sullenberger's landing on the Hudson River is an example of resilience during a crisis and can teach us many things. In this module, we’ll discuss the event and how a ‘human-in-the-loop’ can contribute adaptive capacity amid catastrophic system failure. We’ll go on to examine the crisis management landscape and normal accident theory in relation to known and unknown threats, hazards, and transboundary impacts. You'll compare organizational and societal crises with natural and man-made disasters. Finally, a DHS protocol for identifying and assessing threats will be introduced.

Ethics, Crises, & Disaster Events

This module explores business ethics in relation to crisis events. We will discuss the role of ethics in crisis leadership and examine a mini-case of the Hawk's Nest Tunnel Disaster of the 1930s. The module presents ethics in a context of the crisis management framework and describes how organizational learning can affect policy. One assignment for this module provides an opportunity to reflect on lessons learned from the Deepwater Horizon event.

Organizational Crisis, Adaptive Systems, & Human Resilience

In this module, we’ll examine some of the patterns that emerge when adaptive (complex) systems fail. Patterns of maladaptation can also be observed like decompensation, working at cross-purposes, or getting stuck in outdated behaviors. We’ll also look at sources of organizational crisis in more detail. Different types of internal and external forces can impact the safety, security, and resilience of an organization. Other considerations include industry and organizational life-cycle crises. Finally, we’ll talk about human resilience and development in relation to critical infrastructure resilience.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides an overview of the basic concepts of resilience engineering, such as the four cornerstones of resilience and the holistic approach to resilience using an Integral framework

Explores advanced concepts such as adaptive capacity, human resilience, and organizational resilience

Taught by John E. Thomas, an experienced instructor in resilience engineering and leadership in crisis

Introduces ethical considerations in resilience and crisis management

Provides a framework for identifying and assessing threats to critical infrastructure

Appropriate for individuals working in engineering, project management, and other fields related to infrastructure resilience

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Resilience & Leadership: Concepts, Definitions, & Frameworks with these activities:

Apply four cornerstones of resilience to case study

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Practice applying the four cornerstones of resilience in real-world scenarios to enhance your understanding of resilience engineering principles.

Browse courses on Resilience Engineering

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Review the four cornerstones of resilience
Select a case study
Identify how each cornerstone is demonstrated in the case study
Write a brief summary of your findings

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Career center

Learners who complete Resilience & Leadership: Concepts, Definitions, & Frameworks will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Resilience Engineer

Resilience Engineers are responsible for designing and implementing systems that are resilient to disruptions. This course provides a foundation in the concepts and definitions of resilience, as well as frameworks for resilience engineering. This knowledge can help Resilience Engineers to develop more effective systems that can withstand and recover from disruptions.

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Crisis Manager

Crisis Managers are responsible for leading organizations through crises. This course provides a framework for crisis management, as well as tools for identifying and assessing threats. This knowledge can help Crisis Managers to develop more effective plans for responding to and recovering from crises.

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Disaster Recovery Specialist

Disaster Recovery Specialists are responsible for helping organizations to recover from disasters. This course provides a foundation in the concepts and definitions of resilience, as well as frameworks for resilience engineering. This knowledge can help Disaster Recovery Specialists to develop more effective plans for helping organizations to recover from disasters.

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Emergency Manager

Emergency Managers are responsible for planning for and responding to emergencies. This course provides a foundation in the concepts and definitions of resilience, as well as frameworks for resilience engineering. This knowledge can help Emergency Managers to develop more effective plans for preparing for and responding to emergencies.

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Business Continuity Planner

Business Continuity Planners are responsible for developing plans to help organizations continue to operate during and after disruptions. This course provides a foundation in the concepts and definitions of resilience, as well as frameworks for resilience engineering. This knowledge can help Business Continuity Planners to develop more effective plans for helping organizations to continue to operate during and after disruptions.

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Infrastructure Protection Specialist

Infrastructure Protection Specialists are responsible for protecting critical infrastructure from threats. This course provides a framework for identifying and assessing threats, as well as tools for developing infrastructure protection plans. This knowledge can help Infrastructure Protection Specialists to develop more effective plans for protecting critical infrastructure from threats.

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Risk Analyst

Risk Analysts are responsible for identifying and assessing risks. This course provides a framework for identifying and assessing threats, as well as tools for developing risk mitigation plans. This knowledge can help Risk Analysts to develop more effective plans for identifying and mitigating risks.

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Homeland Security Analyst

Homeland Security Analysts are responsible for analyzing threats to national security. This course provides a framework for identifying and assessing threats, as well as tools for developing homeland security plans. This knowledge can help Homeland Security Analysts to develop more effective plans for protecting the nation from threats.

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Security Analyst

Security Analysts are responsible for protecting organizations from threats. This course provides a framework for identifying and assessing threats, as well as tools for developing security plans. This knowledge can help Security Analysts to develop more effective plans for protecting organizations from threats.

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Cybersecurity Analyst

Cybersecurity Analysts are responsible for protecting organizations from cyber threats. This course provides a framework for identifying and assessing threats, as well as tools for developing cybersecurity plans. This knowledge can help Cybersecurity Analysts to develop more effective plans for protecting organizations from cyber threats.

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Public Safety Planner

Public Safety Planners are responsible for developing plans to protect the public from threats. This course provides a foundation in the concepts and definitions of resilience, as well as frameworks for resilience engineering. This knowledge can help Public Safety Planners to develop more effective plans for protecting the public from threats.

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Environmental Planner

Environmental Planners are responsible for developing plans to protect the environment. This course provides a foundation in the concepts and definitions of resilience, as well as frameworks for resilience engineering. This knowledge can help Environmental Planners to develop more effective plans for protecting the environment.

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Sustainability Manager

Sustainability Managers are responsible for developing plans to make organizations more sustainable. This course provides a foundation in the concepts and definitions of resilience, as well as frameworks for resilience engineering. This knowledge can help Sustainability Managers to develop more effective plans for making organizations more sustainable.

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Operations Manager

Operations Managers are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of an organization. This course provides a foundation in the concepts and definitions of resilience, as well as frameworks for resilience engineering. This knowledge can help Operations Managers to develop more effective plans for managing the operations of an organization.

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Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning and executing projects. This course provides a foundation in the concepts and definitions of resilience, as well as frameworks for resilience engineering. This knowledge can help Project Managers to develop more effective plans for planning and executing projects.

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