This version of the course guide is provisional until the period for editing the new course guides ends.

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Crisis Communication

Code: 104781 ECTS Credits: 6
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
Communication in Organisations OB 3

Contact

Name:
Ana Maria Ullod Pujol
Email:
ana.ullod@uab.cat

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.


Objectives and Contextualisation

The subject is part of the Corporate Communication subject, in a block with other subjects such as: Internal Communication, Public Image Management, Institutional and Corporate Photography.

In today's society and in such a globalized world, crises are a constant, affecting in one way or another the image and reputation of organizations. Starting from the corporate sphere, the aim is to introduce students to the knowledge of the management of business and institutional crises, the different types of existing crises and how to manage them from a communication point of view.


Competences

  • Act within one's own area of knowledge, evaluating sex/gender-based inequalities.
  • Analyse and evaluate the structures of the different types of organisations, of the Media and of the relationship between the two.
  • Devise, plan and execute communication projects about the organisation on all types of media and for both internal and external audiences.
  • Display the ability to lead, negotiate and work in a team.
  • Establish communication objectives, and design and apply optimal strategies for communication between organisations and their employees, clients and users, and society in general.
  • Introduce changes in the methods and processes of the field of knowledge to provide innovative responses to the needs and demands of society.
  • Manage time efficiently and plan for short-, medium- and long-term tasks.
  • Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must develop the necessary learning skills to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
  • Work in compliance with professional codes of conduct.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Adapt to new situations in a constantly changing work environment.
  2. Adopt an ethical approach when creating strategic plans, dealing with a communication crisis and defending the public image.
  3. Analyse a situation and identify its points for improvement.
  4. Communicate using language that is not sexist or discriminatory.
  5. Communicate with journalists, members of the organisation and external audiences.
  6. Devise and develop communication mechanisms of different kinds taking into account the characteristics of the organisation.
  7. Generate creative ideas in the workplace.
  8. Identify and describe organisations' communicative objectives in order to gain a competitive advantage regarding their internal and external audiences.
  9. Identify situations in which a change or improvement is needed.
  10. Know all about the characteristics and structure of the media in the organisation's geographic area of influence in order to draw up its media plan.
  11. Organise the activities of communication departments in the short, medium and long term.
  12. Plan and conduct academic studies in the field of corporate communication based on the preparation of strategic communication plans.
  13. Respect the different religions, ethnic groups, cultures, sexual identities, etc. of the persons belonging to the organisation.
  14. Show initiative and leadership skills.
  15. Work independently to solve problems and take strategic decisions on the basis of the knowledge acquired.

Content

1. What do we understand by crisis in the business and institutional sphere.

2. What characterizes a crisis and its risks

3. Sequentiality of the development of a crisis.

4. Most common types of crisis

5. Principles of crisis communication

6. The crisis plan. Crisis manual and device.

7. Link between business / institutional crisis and reputation, brand activism and corporate social responsibility

  

Note: The course content will be sensitive to issues related to gender perspective and the use of inclusive language.

 

 


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Master Classes 15 0.6 1, 2, 5, 7, 6, 8, 12, 13
Practical classes 21 0.84 1, 2, 7, 6, 8, 12
Seminars 12 0.48 1, 2, 5, 7, 6, 8, 12, 13
Type: Supervised      
Tutorials 7.5 0.3 2, 7, 6, 8, 12
Type: Autonomous      
Student work, readings, videos 87 3.48 1, 2, 5, 14, 10, 7, 6, 8, 11, 12, 13, 15

The teaching methodology that will be applied in the subject is the following:

MD1: Master classes

MD2: Problem-solving classes / cases / exercises

MD4: Preparation of jobs / reports

MD5: Reading articles / reports of interest

MD6: Oral presentation of works

MD7: Tutorials

MD8: Seminars

MD11: Classroom practices

 

A detailed schedule outlining the content of each session will be presented on the first day

of the course and will be available on the course’s Virtual Campus, where students will

find all teaching materials and necessary information for e􀆯ective course monitoring.

Should the teaching modality change for reasons of force majeure according to the

competent authorities, the teaching staff will inform students of any modifications to the

course schedule and teaching methodologies.

 

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Exam 40% 2 0.08 2, 5, 10, 6, 8, 11, 12
Practical works 50% 2 0.08 1, 3, 2, 4, 5, 14, 10, 7, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15
Seminar assistance 10% 3.5 0.14 1, 2, 14, 7, 6, 8, 12, 15

The evaluation system that will be applied in the subject is the following, depending on if it is continuous evaluation or unique evaluation:

CONTINOUS EVALUATION

• Carrying out group work (50%) on the final grade.
• Attendance of seminars (10%) on the final grade.
• Multiple choice exam (40%) on the final grade.

To pass the course, both the assignments and the exam must be passed.

Attendance at seminars is compulsory (minimum 80%), and their performance or attendance is not recoverable. Only duly justified and documented absences will be taken into account.

  

UNIQUE EVALUATION

- completion of a course work (50%) on the final grade. To be delivered on the day of the exam.

- crisis resolution test (10%) based on different readings on the subject. This test will be in person and will take place on the same day of the exam.

- exam (40%) on the final grade.

In the event that the student performs any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation of an evaluation act, this evaluation act will be graded with 0, regardless of the disciplinary process that could be instructed. In the event, that several irregularities occur in the evaluation acts of the same subject, the final grade for this subject will be 0.

The course includes the possibility of recovery, under the following guidelines: The student who fails the exam will be able to access a second exam during the recovery period. In the case of suspending a seminar, group work practice, the student must repeat itin the recovery period, improving the aspects necessary to pass it.

Students will have the right to make up the subject if they have been evaluated from the set of activities, the weight of which is a minimum of 2/3 of the total grade for the subject.

The student who wishes to improve the grade of the first examination session must prepare a specific bibliography (to be consulted with the teaching team). The final grade would be the last one obtained, regardless of whether it was lower than the first.

In the case of a second enrolment, students can do a single synthesis exam/assignment that will consist of a work. The grading of the subject will correspond to the grade of the synthesis exam/assignment.

 

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

 

For this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted exclusively

for [specify tasks, for example: Support tasks, such as bibliographic or information

searches, text correction, or translations…], [the XXX activities] [other specific situations

as considered appropriate]. Students must clearly identify any parts generated with these

technologies, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how AI has

influenced the process and final outcome of the assignment. Failure to disclose the use of

AI in this assessed activity will be considered a breach of academic integrity and may

result in a partial or total penalty to the assignment grade, or more serious sanctions in

severe cases.

 

 


Bibliography


Software

Program: Word, Power Point, Canva or similar word processors are needed to carry out work and presentations.


Groups and Languages

Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 71 Spanish second semester afternoon
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 72 Spanish second semester afternoon
(TE) Theory 7 Spanish second semester afternoon