Crisis Communication and Reputation Management - Study guide

After completing the course, the student will be able to:
Identify and prioritize organization's key stakeholders
Identify and analyze the key factors and risks related to organization's reputation and brand
Develop crisis communication readiness as part of reputation management and prepare a crisis communication plan

No prerequisites Strategic Brand management is highly recommended. Also basic skills and competences of communication theory and practice, experience in using academic sources and understanding of stakeholder theory and definitions provide a good basis for the course.

Stakeholder theory: stakeholder prioritization and expectation management
Trust, credibility, reputation and brand
Reputation and risks
Assessment and monitoring of operating environments from crisis perspective
Assessment and development of crisis communication readiness
Crisis response strategies
Crisis management and leadership

The student can apply relevant theories to identifying stakeholders and reputational issues and risks. The student can evaluate organization's crisis communication readiness. The student knows how to prepare a crisis communication plan and identify different crisis response strategies. The reporting of written assignments largely follows Haaga-Helia's reporting guidelines.

In addition to acquiring the skills mentioned for grade 1, the student is able to prioritize stakeholders and their expectations in line with organisational priorities. The student is able to create and justify the crisis communication plan for an organization. The reporting of written assignments follows Haaga-Helia's reporting guidelines well.

In addition to acquiring the skills mentioned for grade 3, the student is able to create strategic crisis communication plan and excellently apply theoretical insights and frameworks to develop crisis communication readiness in an organisation. The reporting of written tasks follows Haaga-Helia's reporting guidelines excellently. The student has professional project like approach to learning and stays on schedule.

Attendance to Course Kick Off or other agreed method of confirming the course participation is mandatory. Course has a short exam at the beginning of the course and successful completion of that is a prerequisite for continuing the course.

The course consists of 6 modules:
1. Introduction
2. Stakeholder management
3. Issue prioritization
4. Expectation management
5. Crisis Response Strategies and media practices
6. Planning and Crisis Leadership
For each module there is an introductory lecture in Pasila (in Zoom on 27.3), followed by individual assignment where student applies modular theme to their chosen organization / brand.
Its is also possible to complete the course completely independently with the help of online materials and assignments but attendance to lectures is highly recommended.
At the end of the course, a crisis simulation exercise will take place in case there are at least 12 participants. However, a maximum of 20 students can take part in the simulation and participants are confirmed based on binding pre-registration. Registration takes place at the end of the course.
The course includes a compulsory assessment of one's own learning.

Learning materials are published during the course. In addition, students must independently search for information about their chosen organizations / industries and crisis cases.

Current cases and/or cases are discussed and analyzed and in assignments, students are encouraged to analyse cases relevant to own work / industry. 2 Guest lectures: T-Media and Kaiku Communications.

Pasila Campus

No re-exam is available for the course.

The course grade is determined on the basis of the initial exam, and on the basis of the assignments returned by the final DL, according to the evaluation criteria. After this, possible supplementing or raising the grade takes place in accordance with the degree regulations.

Note! You will not receive feedback on assignments returned late and they will be evaluated according to the teachers' schedule. Repeated delays can also affect the course grade, because a grade of 5 requires that "The student stays on schedule."

English

Learning material is international

27.03.2023 - 19.05.2023

Assignment 1 (Individual) Exam 0-10 points Assignment 2 (individual OR group) Stakeholder Analysis 0-10 points Assignment 3 (Individual) Issue Prioritization 0/15 points Assignment 4 (Individual) Expectational Gaps 0-10 points Assignment 5 (Individual) Crisis Response Strategies 0-15 points Assignment 6A (Individual) Crisis Communication Readiness 0-15 points OR Assignment 6B (Individual) Organisation's Trust and Credibility 0-15 points Assignment 7 A (Individual) Crisis Communications Plan 0-25 points OR Assignment 7 B Crisis Simulation + Reflection 0-25 points

02.01.2023 - 24.03.2023

Note! Kick of on 27.03 is is Zoom
Mo 27.3.2023 at 17:40 - 20:30 Course Kick Off and Module 1 Introduction in ZOOM https://haaga-helia.zoom.us/j/69380917891
Mo 3.4.2023 a 17:40 - 20:30 Module 2 Stakeholder Management
Mo 17.4.2023 at 17:40 - 20:30 Modules 3 Issue prioritization and Module 4 Expectation Management
Mo 24.4.2023 at 17:40 - 20:30 Module 5 Crisis Response Strategies and media practices
Mo 8.5.2023 at 17:40 - 20:30 Module 6 Crisis Leadership and recap on course themes
Mo 15.5.2023 at 17:00 - 21.00 Crisis Simulation and Course Closure

EVENING
BLENDED
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Detailed instructions and pre-requisites for RPL process will be shared in the course kick off.

As a principle, if students have acquired the required competence in previous work tasks, recreational activities or on another course, they can present their competence via a demonstration. The demonstration must be agreed with the course teacher. More information and instructions for recognizing and validating prior learning (RPL) are available at
https://www.haaga-helia.fi/en/recognition-learning Look at "Instructions to students (master)"

Mirka Sunimento

15 - 40

LEBUM Degree Programme in Leading Business Transformation

3 cr

H-5