University of Colorado Boulder
Resilience & Leadership: Concepts, Definitions, & Frameworks

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University of Colorado Boulder

Resilience & Leadership: Concepts, Definitions, & Frameworks

John E. Thomas

Instructor: John E. Thomas

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Intermediate level

Recommended experience

26 hours to complete
3 weeks at 8 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Intermediate level

Recommended experience

26 hours to complete
3 weeks at 8 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Define resilience and explain the meaning of the built environment.

  • Outline a holistic approach to resilience of critical infrastructure systems.

  • Apply resilience and crisis management frameworks to complex scenarios.

  • Interpret how ethics may enhance or diminish adaptive capacity.

Details to know

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Assessments

5 assignments

Taught in English

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This course is part of the Resilience Engineering and Leadership in Crisis Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
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There are 5 modules in this course

Welcome to the first course of the Resilience & Leadership series. We will get started right away by defining key concepts that will be touched upon throughout this course: resilience, resilience engineering, the built environment, and critical infrastructure. After, you will see examples of the four cornerstones of resilience that can characterize the response of a complex system to unanticipated disruptions. You will consider multiple perspectives of resilience that present an alternative to traditional risk analysis. Then, we'll discuss a holistic approach to resilience using an Integral framework. The framework is an important tool that will be referenced throughout this specialization, and applies directly to Resilience Engineering and Leadership in Crisis. Let's get started!

What's included

6 videos7 readings1 assignment1 peer review

This module introduces more resilience concepts, tools, and frameworks. First, we’ll examine an expansion of Hollnagel’s work with four socio-technical processes to describe the resilience of a complex system. You will be introduced to the definition of a crisis, and a framework for crisis management as a strategic process. The framework covers landscape survey, strategic planning, crisis management, and organizational learning from both internal and external perspectives. Finally, we’ll continue our review of critical infrastructure resilience policy framework established by the DHS (Department of Homeland Security).

What's included

6 videos6 readings1 assignment1 peer review

Sully Sullenberger's landing on the Hudson River is an example of resilience during a crisis and can teach us many things. In this module, we’ll discuss the event and how a ‘human-in-the-loop’ can contribute adaptive capacity amid catastrophic system failure. We’ll go on to examine the crisis management landscape and normal accident theory in relation to known and unknown threats, hazards, and transboundary impacts. You'll compare organizational and societal crises with natural and man-made disasters. Finally, a DHS protocol for identifying and assessing threats will be introduced.

What's included

8 videos9 readings1 assignment1 peer review

This module explores business ethics in relation to crisis events. We will discuss the role of ethics in crisis leadership and examine a mini-case of the Hawk's Nest Tunnel Disaster of the 1930s. The module presents ethics in a context of the crisis management framework and describes how organizational learning can affect policy. One assignment for this module provides an opportunity to reflect on lessons learned from the Deepwater Horizon event.

What's included

7 videos6 readings1 assignment1 peer review

In this module, we’ll examine some of the patterns that emerge when adaptive (complex) systems fail. Patterns of maladaptation can also be observed like decompensation, working at cross-purposes, or getting stuck in outdated behaviors. We’ll also look at sources of organizational crisis in more detail. Different types of internal and external forces can impact the safety, security, and resilience of an organization. Other considerations include industry and organizational life-cycle crises. Finally, we’ll talk about human resilience and development in relation to critical infrastructure resilience.

What's included

8 videos8 readings1 assignment1 peer review

Instructor

John E. Thomas
University of Colorado Boulder
6 Courses4,509 learners

Offered by

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