ALR213 - Issues, Crisis, and Risk Communication
Unit details
| Year | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 2: Deirdre Quinn-Allan |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 2-hour on-campus seminar per week |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | 1 x 2-hour online seminar per week (recordings provided) |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Content
Organisations seek stability but are challenged daily by issues and risk. An unmanaged issue, or risk ignored, may morph into a full-blown crisis damaging more than the organisation’s reputation. History is littered with organisational failure to plan for and manage crises. When such failures occur, there is a risk of significant and lasting damage to stakeholders and communities. In a time of rapid change, organisations are also under increasing pressure from global and environmental issues which demand strategic and systematic responses to the management of issues, crises, and risk. Using a case study approach this unit will critically examine these important areas of public relations practice and help you develop the knowledge and applied skills needed to recognise problems and be able to make recommendations about how to protect an organisation and its stakeholders.
Learning Outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Explain the differences between issues management, crisis management, and risk management. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO2 | Categorise and explain different types of crises and associated communication strategies employed by organisations | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO3 | Apply issue management models to conduct threat assessment and risk analysis and create a solution for an identified public relations issue. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking GLO5: Problem solving |
Assessment
Trimester 2:| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment 1: Case study | 1600 words or equivalent | 40% | Week 6 |
| Assignment 2: Case study | 2400 words or equivalent | 60% | Week 11 |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
ALR213 Issues, Crisis, and Risk Communication has weekly study guide topics on the online unit site. Links to readings and resources are located within the study guide topics. Commence each week’s topic via the study guide. Whilst many readings and resources can be found via the University Library unit reading list, you should not rely on this list as you may miss learning activities and resources central to assessment.
Note: When using the reading list via the Deakin library, select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.