570007 Communicating Risk, Issues, and Crises
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksRequisite(s): 570003 Understanding Communication in Society AND 992230 Intercultural and International Communication AND 570005 Emergent Communication Practices AND 570006 Driving Stakeholder Engagement
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.
Description
This subject introduces students to the overlapping areas of risk, issue, and crisis communication as allied functions in managing communication. Students explore the link between effective risk, issue and crisis communication and reputation management. Students examine case studies of best and worst practice to understand how risks can escalate into issues, how issues can develop into crises, and how lessons learned from crises build organisational resilience. Guided by theory, students critique the shifting role of strategic communication in developing, implementing, and evaluating communication strategy and tactics in time-pressured environments where risks, issues and crises unfold.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| a. | Identify best and worst practice in risk/issue/crisis communication |
|---|---|
| b. | Critique risk, issue, and crisis communication practice guided by theory |
| c. | Develop strategy in communicating risk, issue, and/or crisis in various contexts |
| d. | Develop crisis communication response kit |
| e. | Demonstrate proficiency in developing and expressing a written academic and/or professional argument |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject engages with the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs), which are tailored to the Graduate Attributes set for all graduates of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:
- Apply a specialised body of practice-oriented knowledge and skills to develop, implement and evaluate innovative and multi-media solutions to major, real-world communication challenges with a high level of personal autonomy and accountability (1.1)
- Critically analyse and reflect on strategic communication models and practices to plan and execute a substantial body of research that synthesise information across diverse platforms in response to communication issues and challenges (2.1)
- Persuade and engage diverse audiences through both written and oral communication strategies across a range of media formats with consideration of others' needs and views (6.1)
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject is made up of six modules delivered online over six weeks (one module per week), in addition to Orientation week. Students work through each module at their own pace, with asynchronous interactive activities attached to each module/topic. Activities provide opportunities to learn, apply and discuss the knowledge gained in a practical manner. Within each module, content is delivered through a mixture of reading material, short videos, interactive activities and both essential and suggested readings. Online synchronous sessions are held four times during the session, to allow students to interact, ask questions of teaching staff, and receive clarification for assessments.
Content (topics)
Students are introduced to key theoretical underpinnings on risk communication, issue communication, and crisis communication. They learn about topics such as reputation management during crises, stakeholder mapping for risk, issue, and crisis communication, crisis leadership and decision-making, media relations during crises, communication planning for risks/issues/crises, stakeholder emotions in crises, and the impact of technology in communicating risks/issues/crises.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Case Study Topic Approval
| Objective(s): | a | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 10% | ||||||||
| Length: | 100 words | ||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 2: Case Study Report
| Objective(s): | a, b and e | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 40% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | 850 words | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 3: Crisis Simulation Exercise
| Objective(s): | c, d and e | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 50% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | 1500 words inclusive of all outputs | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Minimum requirements
Students must submit all assessments and must achieve at least 50% of the subject's total marks.
Required texts
There are no required texts for this subject. Recommended readings will be available via UTS Library and through the subject site.
References
Clausen, U., & Dellbrügge, M. (2023). Supply Chains, Costs and?Investments in?Times of?Multiple Crises. In?Advances in Resilient and Sustainable Transport?(pp. 1–10). Springer International Publishing AG. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-28236-2_1
Coombs, W. T. (2019). Crisis Communication: The Best Evidence from Research. In?The Routledge Companion to Risk, Crisis and Emergency Management?(1st ed., pp. 51–66). Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315458175-6
Frandsen, F., & Johansen, W. (2020). Image repair theory. In?Crisis Communication?(Vol. 23, pp. 105–120). De Gruyter, Inc. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110554236-004
Graham, M., Avery, E., Park, S. (2015). 'The role of social media in local government crisis communications', Public Relations Review, Vol. 41, pp. 386-394.
Heath, R.L. (1997). Strategic issues management: organizations and public policy challenges, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks.
Jin, Y., Liu, B.F., Austin, L. (2014). 'Examining the role of social media in effective crisis management: The effects of crisis origin, information form, and source on publics’ crisis responses', Communication Research, Vol. 41, No.1, pp. 74-94.
Mazzei, A. & Ravazzani, S. (2015). 'Internal crisis communication strategies to protect trust relationships: A Study of Italian Companies', International Journal of Business Communication, Vol. 52, No. 3, pp. 319-337.
O’Hair, D. & O’Hair, M. (2021). Communicating Science in Times of Crisis: The COVID?19 Pandemic Volume 1. In?Communicating Science in Times of Crisis?(pp. i–ix). John Wiley & Sons, Inc. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119751809.fmatter
Pathak, M. D., Kar, B., & Panda, M. C. (2022). Chaos and complexity: Entrepreneurial planning during pandemic. Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, 12(1), 1-11.
Sabuncuoglu Peksevgen, B. (2020).?Themes in Issues, Risk and Crisis Communication: A Multi-Dimensional Perspective. Peter Lang GmbH, Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften. https://doi.org/10.3726/b17931
Stephens, K.K. & Robertson, B.W. 2022, 'Social media platforms and broader participation in crisis communication', Social Media and Crisis Communication, pp. 156-67.
Zhan, M. M., & Zhao, X. (2021). How Stakeholders React to Issues with Risk Implications: Extending a Relational Perspective of Issues Management.?Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management,?29(4), 385–398. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-5973.12359