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Burton St. John

One of the best ways to learn about how to help an organization manage a crisis is to examine where crisis situations have been successfully addressed. But there is great value in also seeing where crisis situations have not been handled well. In this course, we look at iconic cases, both well-managed and not well-managed, that point to lessons you may be able to use, especially if you are asked by a leader to assist them as they encounter a crisis. You'll also hear from experts in crisis management and crisis communication as they share with you what they have observed about these iconic cases. This course, however, offers another distinctive aspect: you'll hear about the warning signs of crises that will likely present future threats to organizations, with insights provided by an expert. As such, this course, via structured learning activities (video lectures and quizzes), will help prepare you for the near certainty that whatever organization you work for (or want to work for) will encounter a crisis.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Examining Iconic Crises that Were Handled Successfully
One of the best ways to learn about how to help an organization manage a crisis is to examine where crisis situations have been successfully addressed. In this module, we will look at iconic crises cases and discuss how they point to lessons you may be able to apply to your workplace.
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Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Explores both successful and unsuccessful crisis management cases, offering a balanced perspective for practical application in real-world scenarios
Features insights from experts in crisis management and communication, providing learners with access to valuable perspectives and practical advice
Examines warning signs of future crises, equipping learners with the ability to anticipate and prepare for potential organizational threats

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Reviews summary

Case studies in risk and crisis management

According to learners, this course is a highly positive experience for those seeking to understand how organizations manage risk and crisis. Students frequently mention the value of examining iconic case studies, highlighting both successful and unsuccessful examples as providing crucial insights. The inclusion of expert insights is often cited as a significant strength, offering practical perspectives on real-world challenges. Many learners feel the course provides a strong foundation, preparing them for the near certainty of encountering crises and helping them identify warning signs of future threats. Overall, students find the content relevant and applicable.
Preparing for upcoming crisis types.
"The unique section on future risks felt highly relevant and very useful for planning ahead."
"It was eye-opening to learn about the potential warning signs for different types of crises that might emerge."
"Thinking strategically about what threats are coming next is a crucial takeaway from this course."
Valuable perspectives from practitioners.
"Hearing directly from the experts added so much depth and real-world context to the material."
"Their practical advice and observations from their careers were a significant highlight of the course."
"The expert interviews made the theoretical principles come alive with actual experiences."
Learning from real-world examples.
"Examining the iconic case studies really helped me grasp the concepts being taught."
"Learning from both successes and failures in historical crisis management was incredibly insightful."
"The analysis of how past crises were handled provided concrete, practical lessons I can use."
Concepts applicable to work.
"I feel much better prepared to assist leaders during a crisis situation based on what I learned here."
"The principles and examples taught in this course are directly applicable to my professional role in communications."
"This course provided me with practical tools and strategies I could apply immediately to my work."
Consistently receives high scores.
"I gave this course a 5-star rating because it exceeded my expectations."
"My score reflects how much valuable information I gained from the content."
"This was one of the best online courses I've taken recently for professional development."

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 Helping Your Organization Manage Risk and Crisis with these activities:
Review 'Crisis Management: Planning for the Inevitable'
Gain a foundational understanding of crisis management principles and frameworks before diving into specific case studies.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Crisis Management: Planning for the Inevitable'.
  • Read the book, focusing on key concepts and frameworks.
  • Take notes on important definitions and strategies.
Review Public Relations Principles
Strengthen foundational knowledge of public relations to better understand crisis communication strategies.
Browse courses on Public Relations
Show steps
  • Review basic public relations concepts and principles.
  • Identify key stakeholders and their communication needs.
  • Understand the role of media relations in crisis management.
Compile a Crisis Communication Toolkit
Develop a practical resource for crisis communication by gathering templates, checklists, and best practices.
Show steps
  • Research crisis communication templates and checklists.
  • Gather examples of effective crisis communication strategies.
  • Organize the materials into a usable toolkit.
  • Write a brief introduction explaining how to use the toolkit.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Simulate a Crisis Communication Scenario
Reinforce crisis communication skills through simulated scenarios and role-playing exercises.
Show steps
  • Develop a hypothetical crisis scenario.
  • Assign roles to participants (e.g., spokesperson, media representative).
  • Conduct a simulated press conference or interview.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of the communication strategies.
Review 'Reputation Rules: Strategies for Building Your Company's Most Valuable Asset'
Understand the importance of reputation management and how it relates to crisis communication.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Reputation Rules'.
  • Read the book, focusing on the relationship between reputation and crisis.
  • Identify key strategies for building and protecting reputation.
Develop a Crisis Communication Plan
Apply the course's lessons by creating a crisis communication plan for a hypothetical organization.
Show steps
  • Select a hypothetical organization and industry.
  • Identify potential crisis scenarios for the organization.
  • Develop communication strategies for each scenario.
  • Outline key messages and target audiences.
  • Create a plan for monitoring and evaluating the plan's effectiveness.
Create a Presentation on a Crisis Case Study
Deepen understanding of crisis management by analyzing and presenting a real-world case study.
Show steps
  • Select a crisis case study not covered in the course.
  • Research the crisis and its impact on the organization.
  • Analyze the organization's response to the crisis.
  • Create a presentation summarizing the key lessons learned.

Career center

Learners who complete Helping Your Organization Manage Risk and Crisis will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Crisis Management Consultant
A crisis management consultant advises organizations on how to prepare for and respond to crises. This career involves assessing potential risks, developing crisis communication plans, and helping organizations effectively manage crisis situations. This course is particularly relevant because it examines both successful and unsuccessful crisis responses, highlighting key lessons and best practices. The course's exploration into identifying future crisis warning signs is highly relevant for a consultant as they need to be future-oriented. For those seeking a career as a crisis management consultant, this course helps build a solid understanding of crisis dynamics and strategies.
Business Continuity Planner
A business continuity planner develops and implements plans to ensure an organization can continue operating during disruptions or crises. This role focuses on creating strategies to minimize the impact of incidents on business functions. This course is highly relevant as it explores different types of crises and how organizations have responded to them. This course helps those entering a role as a business continuity planner by offering a clear view of how to plan for and manage a variety of scenarios. It offers a perspective on the warning signs of potential future crisis situations.
Public Relations Specialist
A public relations specialist manages an organization's communication with the public, especially during crises. This role involves crafting messaging, handling media inquiries, and shaping public perception. This course is directly applicable because it reviews both successful and unsuccessful crisis communications. The course's look at the warning signs of crises assists greatly with proactive management and messaging. A public relations specialist who takes this course will develop a strong understanding of how to handle crises and communicate effectively. The course will be helpful to any PR professional.
Emergency Management Specialist
An emergency management specialist is responsible for planning and coordinating responses to natural disasters, accidents, and other emergencies, often in the public sector. This course examines iconic crisis cases and how they were handled, which aids in understanding how to better manage emergency situations. Learning from both successful and unsuccessful responses can make an emergency management specialist more effective. The course's emphasis on identifying future crisis warning signs allows a specialist to anticipate potential problems. For those interested in being an emergency management specialist, this is a highly appropriate course.
Risk Analyst
A risk analyst identifies potential risks that could affect a company's operations or reputation. This role requires a keen understanding of how crises develop and how they can be mitigated, and this course may be useful. Through its exploration of both successful and unsuccessful crisis management, the course provides valuable insights into the nature of risk and how organizations can prepare for various threats. The course's focus on identifying warning signs of future crises aligns perfectly with the analyst's need to proactively anticipate and address organizational weaknesses. This course provides a strong foundation for those interested in pursuing work as a risk analyst.
Corporate Communications Officer
A corporate communications officer is responsible for managing a company's internal and external communications. This role requires an understanding of how to effectively manage messaging during a crisis. This course may be helpful by providing valuable insights into how other organizations have communicated successfully, and unsuccessfully, during crisis events. The course's focus on future crisis warning signs may help develop more proactive communications strategies. Anyone pursuing a career as a communications officer may find this course beneficial.
Compliance Officer
A compliance officer ensures that an organization adheres to relevant laws, regulations, and internal policies. This role involves identifying and mitigating risks associated with noncompliance. This course helps a compliance officer by providing them a deeper understanding of crisis situations. The course’s examination of real-world cases and how they were managed provides practical insights that are highly transferrable. The course's exploration of warning signs allows a compliance officer to be more proactive. Those seeking to become a compliance officer will find this course to be useful.
Operations Manager
An operations manager oversees the daily activities and processes of an organization, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness. This role benefits from understanding how to manage crises that can disrupt operations. This course may be useful because it examines both successful and unsuccessful case studies, offering insights into how to avoid operational failures. The course’s coverage of warning signs of future crises allows an operations manager to anticipate risks. This course helps those interested in a role as an operations manager.
Project Manager
A project manager is responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects, and needs to be able to manage risks and navigate unexpected challenges. This course can provide useful insights as it deals with the analysis of crisis management strategies. By analyzing case studies, the course helps a project manager understand how to address problems when they arise. The course's focus on warning signs may also help a project manager foresee threats to project success. Any project manager can benefit from this course.
Human Resources Specialist
A human resources specialist handles employee relations, recruiting, and training within an organization. This role requires an understanding of how to manage crises that may impact employees, such as layoffs, ethical breaches, or workplace accidents. This course may be helpful when considering the impact of a crisis on employees. The course reviews a variety of crises and helps to build a foundation on how to respond to them. This course may be particularly relevant for those interested in specializing in employee relations or legal compliance within HR.
Internal Auditor
An internal auditor evaluates an organization's risk management, internal controls, and governance processes. This course may be useful as it provides insights into real-world crises and their effects. The course's examination of both successful and unsuccessful responses can aid an auditor in assessing the effectiveness of organizational plans. Learning to identify warning signs allows an auditor to highlight potential weaknesses. This course may be useful to any internal auditor.
Management Consultant
A management consultant advises organizations on improving their performance and efficiency, sometimes including risk and crisis management. This course, while not explicitly focused on that, may be useful as it delves into how organizations handle crisis situations. The course examines different crisis scenarios that many organizations face. The consultant can use these insights to better assist their clients. The course's focus on warning signs of future crisis may be particularly useful. A management consultant may find this course helpful.
Information Security Analyst
An information security analyst protects an organization's computer systems and networks from threats. While the course does not focus on cybersecurity, it may be useful because it explores the broader topic of crisis and how to mitigate the effects of a crisis. The course's approach to both successful and unsuccessful crisis responses may provide insights into strategies for data breaches and other security incidents. The course includes the identification of warning signs which is beneficial to their pursuit of proactively addressing security issues. An information security analyst may find value in this course.
Nonprofit Program Manager
Nonprofit program managers oversee the planning and execution of programs that further an organization's mission. These roles may benefit from an understanding of crises and how to mitigate their effects. This course may be helpful because it explores both successful and unsuccessful crisis management strategies. The course's examination of warning signs can aid a program manager in proactively anticipating potential challenges. This course may be useful for nonprofit professionals.
Teacher
A teacher educates students in a wide variety of subjects, and this may include teaching management or business courses that could benefit from a discussion of crisis management. This course may be useful to a teacher by providing real-world case studies and practical applications. The course gives a strong base of knowledge in crisis management and communication. The variety of case studies explored in this course may be valuable when teaching this subject. Anyone pursuing a career in teaching management may find this course helpful.

Reading list

We've selected two 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 Helping Your Organization Manage Risk and Crisis .
Provides a comprehensive overview of crisis management, covering various aspects from planning to execution. It offers practical frameworks and real-world examples that complement the course's case study approach. Reading this book before the course will provide a solid foundation in crisis management principles. It useful reference tool for understanding the stages of a crisis and developing effective response strategies.
Explores the importance of reputation management in the face of crises. It provides insights into how organizations can build and protect their reputation. This book is more valuable as additional reading than it is as a current reference. It offers a framework for understanding how stakeholders perceive an organization and how to manage those perceptions during a crisis.

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