We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
John E. Thomas
Resilience & Leadership: Tools, Methods, & Applications is the second course of the ‘Resilience Engineering and Leadership in Crisis’ specialization. This course offers tools and methods for applying the concepts from the Course 1 (Resilience & Leadership: Concepts, Definitions, & Frameworks) to various applications and disaster scenarios. Systems thinking, crisis management lifecycle, and organizational strategy are presented to help cultivate and strengthen crisis leadership and communication skills. Learners will assess the resilience of a complex system and create a crisis management plan.
Read more
Resilience & Leadership: Tools, Methods, & Applications is the second course of the ‘Resilience Engineering and Leadership in Crisis’ specialization. This course offers tools and methods for applying the concepts from the Course 1 (Resilience & Leadership: Concepts, Definitions, & Frameworks) to various applications and disaster scenarios. Systems thinking, crisis management lifecycle, and organizational strategy are presented to help cultivate and strengthen crisis leadership and communication skills. Learners will assess the resilience of a complex system and create a crisis management plan.
Read more
Resilience & Leadership: Tools, Methods, & Applications is the second course of the ‘Resilience Engineering and Leadership in Crisis’ specialization. This course offers tools and methods for applying the concepts from the Course 1 (Resilience & Leadership: Concepts, Definitions, & Frameworks) to various applications and disaster scenarios. Systems thinking, crisis management lifecycle, and organizational strategy are presented to help cultivate and strengthen crisis leadership and communication skills. Learners will assess the resilience of a complex system and create a crisis management plan.
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.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/bgf5gv/resilience
Here's a deal for you
Save money when you learn with a deal that may be relevant to this course.
All coupon codes, vouchers, and discounts are applied automatically unless otherwise noted.
Get offer
What's inside
Syllabus
Applying Systems Concepts & Perspectives
Welcome to the second course of the Resilience & Leadership series. In this course, we will get started right away by introducing you to systems theory and discussing how systems concepts may be applied to crisis management. You will be presented with systems thinking and mental models to use as tools for working with unanticipated disruptions. We’ll discuss a few example disaster events and apply some of the resilience concepts and frameworks covered so far in this specialization. Finally, you will discover a method for scanning the environment to collect and analyze relevant information using a SWOT analysis tool that can help with identifying potential crises.
Read more
Syllabus
Applying Systems Concepts & Perspectives
Welcome to the second course of the Resilience & Leadership series. In this course, we will get started right away by introducing you to systems theory and discussing how systems concepts may be applied to crisis management. You will be presented with systems thinking and mental models to use as tools for working with unanticipated disruptions. We’ll discuss a few example disaster events and apply some of the resilience concepts and frameworks covered so far in this specialization. Finally, you will discover a method for scanning the environment to collect and analyze relevant information using a SWOT analysis tool that can help with identifying potential crises.
Read more
Traffic lights
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause and
possible dealbreakers
Explores the application of systems concepts and perspectives, which are foundational for crisis management
Examines the critical characteristics of Crisis Management Teams (CMTs) and their members
Develops an understanding of resilience training, business, and organizational strategy
Introduces the Resilience Analysis Grid as a tool for assessing the resilience of a system
Discusses crisis leadership and communication, which play a vital role in preparation and recovery
Taught by John E. Thomas, an academic with expertise in engineering management and resilience
Save this course
Create your own learning path.
Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save
Save
Reviews summary
Practical resilience & crisis leadership
According to students, this course is a highly practical and relevant offering, particularly for those in leadership and management roles. Learners consistently praise its focus on providing actionable tools and methods for crisis management and organizational resilience. The emphasis on systems thinking and effective crisis communication is frequently highlighted as a strength, equipping students with essential skills. Some learners note that while the course can stand alone, having completed the preceding course in the specialization can provide additional context. It successfully translates complex concepts into applicable strategies for real-world scenarios.
Benefits from prior knowledge from the first specialization course.
"Having completed the first course, 'Concepts, Definitions, & Frameworks,' I felt much more grounded in the material here."
"While the course tries to be standalone, I strongly recommend taking Course 1 first for better context and deeper understanding."
"I appreciated the continued exploration of resilience concepts introduced previously, making it a cohesive learning experience."
Strong focus on vital communication strategies during crises.
"The lessons on transparent and accurate crisis communication were a major takeaway for me, invaluable for real-world scenarios."
"I learned different communication styles and how to adapt my message in high-stakes situations to ensure clarity and impact."
"Understanding the critical role of stakeholder communication in crisis preparation and recovery was extremely valuable for my role."
Emphasizes a comprehensive systems perspective for problem-solving.
"The emphasis on systems thinking completely changed how I approach complex problems and anticipate disruptions more effectively."
"I now have a much clearer understanding of how various systems interact during a crisis, thanks to this course's detailed analysis."
"It provided a robust framework for analyzing complex systems and their vulnerabilities, which is very empowering."
Highly pertinent for professionals in leadership and management.
"As a manager, I found the insights into organizational strategy and crisis leadership directly applicable to my daily work."
"This course is invaluable for anyone aiming for leadership roles in a technical or engineering context, offering real-world value."
"The content on business resilience deeply resonated with the challenges I face in my professional life and offered solutions."
Provides actionable frameworks and tools for crisis application.
"This course equipped me with incredibly useful tools like the Resilience Analysis Grid and SWOT for identifying potential crises."
"I found the methods for applying systems concepts to crisis management to be highly actionable and directly useful."
"The focus on concrete applications rather than just theory was exactly what I needed to build my skills."
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: Tools, Methods, & Applications with these
activities:
Review Resilience Engineering
Show steps
Refresh your understanding of basic resilience engineering frameworks and concepts
Browse courses on
Resilience Engineering
Show steps
-
Revisit course materials from previous courses on resilience engineering
-
Complete the course pre-assessment
Review the book Resilience Engineering: Concepts & Practice
Show steps
Gain in-depth knowledge of resilience engineering principles and best practices
Show steps
-
Read the book and take notes on key concepts
-
Summarize the main arguments and findings
Run disaster scenarios
Show steps
Practice applying the resilience engineering concepts you will learn in this course
Browse courses on
Disaster Management
Show steps
-
Identify common disaster scenarios based on historical data
-
Develop detailed scenarios with specific parameters and objectives
-
Run the scenarios and document your responses, including actions taken, decisions made, and outcomes
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Participate in Study Group
Show steps
Engage with your peers to discuss course concepts and work on projects collaboratively
Show steps
-
Join a peer study group
-
Attend regular study sessions
-
Participate in group discussions and brainstorming
Participate in a crisis management simulation
Show steps
Test your crisis management skills in a realistic simulated environment
Browse courses on
Crisis Management
Show steps
-
Identify and register for a relevant crisis management simulation
-
Prepare for the simulation by reviewing relevant materials
-
Participate in the simulation and take on a specific role
Create a communications plan
Show steps
Develop a comprehensive communications plan for a specific disaster scenario
Browse courses on
Crisis Communication
Show steps
-
Identify stakeholders and their communication needs
-
Develop messages and communication channels
-
Create a communication schedule and protocol
Volunteer with a disaster relief organization
Show steps
Gain practical experience and contribute to the community by volunteering with an organization that responds to disasters
Browse courses on
Disaster Relief
Show steps
-
Identify local disaster relief organizations
-
Inquire about volunteer opportunities and requirements
-
Participate in volunteer activities, such as disaster preparedness workshops or response operations
Develop a crisis management plan for your community
Show steps
Create a comprehensive crisis management plan that outlines strategies and procedures for responding to and recovering from emergencies in your community
Show steps
-
Identify potential hazards and risks facing your community
-
Develop detailed plans for responding to and recovering from each type of hazard
-
Identify resources and support systems available in your community
-
Communicate the plan to the community and stakeholders
Review Resilience Engineering
Show steps
Refresh your understanding of basic resilience engineering frameworks and concepts
Browse courses on
Resilience Engineering
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Revisit course materials from previous courses on resilience engineering
- Complete the course pre-assessment
Review the book Resilience Engineering: Concepts & Practice
Show steps
Gain in-depth knowledge of resilience engineering principles and best practices
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read the book and take notes on key concepts
- Summarize the main arguments and findings
Run disaster scenarios
Show steps
Practice applying the resilience engineering concepts you will learn in this course
Browse courses on
Disaster Management
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify common disaster scenarios based on historical data
- Develop detailed scenarios with specific parameters and objectives
- Run the scenarios and document your responses, including actions taken, decisions made, and outcomes
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Participate in Study Group
Show steps
Engage with your peers to discuss course concepts and work on projects collaboratively
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Join a peer study group
- Attend regular study sessions
- Participate in group discussions and brainstorming
Participate in a crisis management simulation
Show steps
Test your crisis management skills in a realistic simulated environment
Browse courses on
Crisis Management
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify and register for a relevant crisis management simulation
- Prepare for the simulation by reviewing relevant materials
- Participate in the simulation and take on a specific role
Create a communications plan
Show steps
Develop a comprehensive communications plan for a specific disaster scenario
Browse courses on
Crisis Communication
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify stakeholders and their communication needs
- Develop messages and communication channels
- Create a communication schedule and protocol
Volunteer with a disaster relief organization
Show steps
Gain practical experience and contribute to the community by volunteering with an organization that responds to disasters
Browse courses on
Disaster Relief
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify local disaster relief organizations
- Inquire about volunteer opportunities and requirements
- Participate in volunteer activities, such as disaster preparedness workshops or response operations
Develop a crisis management plan for your community
Show steps
Create a comprehensive crisis management plan that outlines strategies and procedures for responding to and recovering from emergencies in your community
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify potential hazards and risks facing your community
- Develop detailed plans for responding to and recovering from each type of hazard
- Identify resources and support systems available in your community
- Communicate the plan to the community and stakeholders
Career center
Learners who complete Resilience & Leadership: Tools, Methods, & Applications will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Resilience Engineer
Resilience Engineer
Resilience Engineers design and implement systems that are more resilient to disruptions. They work with organizations to identify and mitigate risks, and to develop plans for responding to and recovering from disruptions. This course can help you develop the skills needed to be a successful Resilience Engineer, such as how to assess the resilience of a complex system and create a crisis management plan.
Emergency Manager
Emergency Manager
Emergency Managers develop and implement plans to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies. They also work with other organizations to coordinate disaster response efforts. This course can help you develop the skills needed to be successful in this role, such as how to assess the resilience of a complex system and create a crisis management plan.
Chief Resilience Officer
Chief Resilience Officer
As a Chief Resilience Officer will lead the development and implementation of resilience strategies. They will also be responsible for coordinating with other departments to ensure that the organization is prepared for and can respond to any disruptions. This course will provide you with the tools and methods you need to be successful in this role, including how to assess the resilience of a complex system and create a crisis management plan.
Disaster Recovery Specialist
Disaster Recovery Specialist
Disaster Recovery Specialists help organizations to recover from disasters. They work with other departments to develop and implement disaster recovery plans, and to coordinate recovery efforts. This course can help you develop the skills needed to be a successful Disaster Recovery Specialist, such as how to assess the resilience of a complex system and create a crisis management plan.
Risk Manager
Risk Manager
Risk Managers identify, assess, and mitigate risks to an organization. They work with other departments to develop and implement risk management plans. This course can help you develop the skills needed to be a successful Risk Manager, such as how to assess the resilience of a complex system and create a crisis management plan.
Crisis Communications Manager
Crisis Communications Manager
Crisis Communications Managers develop and implement plans to communicate with the public during a crisis. They work with other departments to coordinate crisis communications efforts, and to ensure that the public is informed and updated during a crisis. This course can be helpful for Crisis Communications Managers, as it can help them develop the skills needed to assess the resilience of a complex system and create a crisis management plan.
Business Continuity Planner
Business Continuity Planner
Business Continuity Planners develop and implement plans to ensure that an organization can continue to operate during and after a disruption. They work with other departments to identify critical business processes and to develop plans for restoring those processes in the event of a disruption. This course may be helpful for Business Continuity Planners, as it can help them develop the skills needed to assess the resilience of a complex system and create a crisis management plan.
Security Manager
Security Manager
Security Managers oversee the development and implementation of security plans. They work with other departments to coordinate security efforts, and to ensure that the public is safe. This course may be helpful for Security Managers, as it can help them develop the skills needed to assess the resilience of a complex system and create a crisis management plan.
Public Safety Director
Public Safety Director
Public Safety Directors oversee the development and implementation of public safety plans. They work with other departments to coordinate public safety efforts, and to ensure that the public is safe. This course may be helpful for Public Safety Directors, as it can help them develop the skills needed to assess the resilience of a complex system and create a crisis management plan.
Homeland Security Manager
Homeland Security Manager
Homeland Security Managers oversee the development and implementation of homeland security plans. They work with other departments to coordinate homeland security efforts, and to ensure that the public is safe. This course may be helpful for Homeland Security Managers, as it can help them develop the skills needed to assess the resilience of a complex system and create a crisis management plan.
Operations Manager
Operations Manager
Operations Managers oversee the day-to-day operations of an organization. They work with other departments to ensure that the organization is running smoothly and efficiently. This course may be helpful for Operations Managers, as it can help them develop the skills needed to assess the resilience of a complex system and create a crisis management plan.
Project Manager
Project Manager
Project Managers oversee the planning and execution of projects. They work with other departments to ensure that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. This course may be helpful for Project Managers, as it can help them develop the skills needed to assess the resilience of a complex system and create a crisis management plan.
Program Manager
Program Manager
Program Managers oversee the planning and execution of programs. They work with other departments to ensure that programs are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. This course may be helpful for Program Managers, as it can help them develop the skills needed to assess the resilience of a complex system and create a crisis management plan.
Consultant
Consultant
Consultants provide advice and guidance to organizations on a variety of topics. They work with organizations to identify and solve problems, and to develop and implement solutions. This course may be helpful for Consultants, as it can help them develop the skills needed to assess the resilience of a complex system and create a crisis management plan.
Technical Writer
Technical Writer
Technical Writers create and maintain documentation for technical products and services. They work with other departments to ensure that documentation is accurate, clear, and concise. This course may be helpful for Technical Writers, as it can help them develop the skills needed to assess the resilience of a complex system and create a crisis management plan.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/bgf5gv/resilience
Reading list
We've selected ten books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Resilience & Leadership: Tools, Methods, & Applications.
Provides a framework for understanding why large, successful companies often fail to innovate. It would be a valuable resource for students in this course, as it would help them to understand the challenges of innovation and how to overcome them.
Provides a step-by-step guide to building a successful startup. It would be a valuable resource for students in this course, as it would provide them with the knowledge and skills they need to launch their own businesses.
Provides a candid and insightful look at the challenges of building a successful business. It would be a valuable resource for students in this course, as it would provide them with the wisdom and experience of a successful entrepreneur.
Save
Provides a new understanding of what motivates people, emphasizing the importance of autonomy, mastery, and purpose. It would be a valuable resource for students in this course, as it would provide them with the knowledge they need to motivate themselves and others.
Save
Provides a new understanding of how our mindset can affect our success. It would be a valuable resource for students in this course, as it would provide them with the knowledge they need to develop a growth mindset and achieve their goals.
Save
Provides a new understanding of how habits work and how we can change them. It would be a valuable resource for students in this course, as it would provide them with the knowledge they need to develop good habits and break bad ones.
Provides a framework for personal and professional effectiveness. It would be a valuable resource for students in this course, as it would provide them with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in their careers.
Provides a framework for strategy and leadership. It would be a valuable resource for students in this course, as it would provide them with the knowledge and wisdom of one of the greatest military strategists of all time.
Save
Provides a framework for personal growth and self-improvement. It would be a valuable resource for students in this course, as it would provide them with the wisdom and guidance of one of the greatest philosophers of all time.
Save
Provides a framework for spiritual growth and self-realization. It would be a valuable resource for students in this course, as it would provide them with the wisdom and guidance of one of the greatest spiritual teachers of all time.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/bgf5gv/resilience
Share
Similar courses
Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Effort
5 weeks of study, 6 hours/week
Level
Intermediate
Via
Coursera
Institution
University of Colorado Boulder
Instructor
John E. Thomas
Language
English
Our mission
OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.
Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.
Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.
Affiliate disclosure
We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.
Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.
Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.
© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser