Prospectus

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Cyber Crisis Management & Communication

Course
2020-2021

Admission requirements

Admission only after intake, please see our website

Description

In this course we will look at the challenges and dilemmas authorities face in dealing with crises in general and cyber crises in particular. By exploring different conceptual and theoretical strands in the academic literature combined with the in-depth study of empirical cases, students will get familiarised with the main concepts, processes, challenges and dilemmas of crisis management. We will relate crisis management to various cyber crises and cyber security.

Course objectives

  • Students are familiarised with the key tenets of the academic discipline of crisis management (e.g. causes, prevention, preparation, detection, response and mitigation).

  • Students gain knowledge and understanding of the role of public leaders before, during and after a crisis and are able to analyse real world examples of public leaders/management dealing with crisis management in general and cyber crises in particular in terms of challenges, strategies, and leadership tasks and their outcomes in the policy and political arena.

  • Students gain knowledge and understanding of the role of media during crises and are able to identify and analyse the consequences in terms of communication, cooperation and self-organising principles as presented in crisis management literature.

  • Students will learn about crisis communication, including framing strategies, rituals of reassurance and best practices, and apply those to concrete examples of cyber crisis communication.

  • Students will learn to apply relevant theoretical notions and translate these into useful advice for professionals working in the field of crisis management and cyber security.

  • Students will learn to critically evaluate the political, managerial and societal implications of different approaches towards crisis management and cyber security.

  • Students will learn to translate theoretical insights of crisis management to bolster preparation and response for cyber crises.

Timetable

Friday June 18, 2021
Friday June 25, 2021
Friday July 2, 2021
Friday July 9, 2021
Friday July 16, 2021 exam date

Mode of instruction

Lectures, seminarstyle, exercises, class discussion and guest lecture(s)

Prof. dr. Arjen Boin, Drs. Werner Overdijk

Assessment method

The final grade will consist of one presentation and a written essay:

Individual presentation (30% of the final grade). Presentation will be held during a plenary online session.

A written essay (70% of the final grade) on Crisis Management and Cyber crises.

Only assessments with the weight of 30% and lower are compensable. This means that one does not have to pass an assessment if it weighs 30% or less in order to pass the course, if the average of all assessments combined is at least a 5.5. In addition, assignments weighing up to and including 30% cannot be re-taken, meaning that if one failed an assessment of 30% or less one is not allowed to redo it and that assessment must be compensated by the other assessment(s).

The re-sit will take the same form.

Reading list

Compulsory literature and literature for further consultation will be announced via Blackboard

Registration

No registration is required for lectures and exams.

Contact

Chantal de Groot, study coordinator

Remarks

For more information see the website see our website