Risk Communication Project €“ applying Coppola & Maloney, and the other leading experts’ principles on risk communication programs. SO PLEASE USE THIS REFERENCE AS A MAIN ONE IN YOUT PROJECT AND APPLY THE PRINCIPLES MENTIONED IN IT.
Coppola D.P. & Maloney, E.K. (2009) Communicating Emergency Preparedness. New York: CRC Press.

This project will be a case study of the application of the principles and methods you have read about in the Coppola & Maloney text as well as the other experts applying the principles of risk communications. Remember to build a foundation using these principles into your analysis.

Identify a risk communication program that is in place to complete the case study.   This could be a local effort or a national campaign. It may or may not be related to disasters.

Objectives:
a.)    Articulate and apply the basic principles of crisis and emergency risk communication
b.)    Analyze how leadership and decision-making are applied in the process and activities required to create a successful campaign.
c.)    Identify key messages, audiences, stakeholders, communication channels, underlying theories, and other pertinent factors (outrage, trust, credibility, etc.)
d.)    Examine the media coverage, agency press releases, and public information materials, websites, any pertinent data sources.
e.)    Critique the strengths and weaknesses of the risk communication plan.
f.)    Articulate the rationale for citizen engagement in preparedness and response activities
g.)    Evaluate if the risk communication activities lead to personal action.

Delve into the HVA that was done to develop the hazard risk, how the target population was identified, and what appropriate solutions were explored.  You will need to find your key informants €“ who helped create the project? They will provide you with critical information and background on the development and execution of the project or program.  This information will be used in your case study.

Obtain information on who was on the planning team and talk with as many as you can. What did they contribute? How did the delivered project change over time and as new information was found? Was the final outcome broader, more focused or exactly as was originally discussed?

Explore the project management and how project management principles were applied. Identify how and who assumed the roles to schedule, define assignments and timeline work.  Who and what agency had the lead?   Were subcommittees created and what were they?  If so, why were they needed and who was the lead on each subcommittee?

Evaluate the campaign strategy. What obstacles and influential external variables were encountered? Was there an ROI that needed to be reached or measured? If, what and how?

Was the message provided in an appropriate setting, channel and method for the intended audience? This builds upon your indepth knowledge of the person, community or population you have chosen to study. This should be a detailed analysis.  If a communicator was used, was he or she the best one for the message and audience?  Why and how was that communicator selected?  Was the program developed for multiple languages or audiences? Culturally appropriate? How did you determine this?

How did the project work? Answer the question €“ did it produce an effect or was it effective in meeting the intended goals? Evaluation is essential €“ review the principles of program evaluation and many methods it can take. Be creative in identifying other parameters that could be used to evaluate the specific program you are reviewing.

As you read the work of the various experts,  I anticipate that you will come up with thoughts pertinent to your case study that are not listed above.  That is fine just make sure you address sufficient elements to do a thorough analysis of the case and to integrate the textbook principles and concepts.

Submit the paper, in APA format, by the beginning of week 9. Extra credit –  prepare a 5-7 slide presentation to discuss your work on a chat. Let me know if you are able to present your case for a chat so we can plan our time.

Course Name     Organizational Management & Communication in Disasters

Course Description     DMM 631 Organizational Management and Communication in Disasters (3-0-3)
This course introduces students to theories of organizational dynamics and management as it pertains to crisis and disaster situations. The course also explores communication within the organization, with external agencies, and with the public and media during and after disaster events.
Learning Objectives     €¢    Describe organizational behavior in disaster or crisis situations including leading, following and group dynamics
€¢    Illustrate effective leadership strategies for crisis situations
€¢    Explore systems theory, project management and disaster management implications using the Ackoff model.
€¢    Compare and contrast common barriers in inter and intra-agency communication in disasters
€¢    Identify strategies to improve communication in disasters
€¢    Analyze the potential challenges in the use of telecommunication systems in disasters
€¢    Define inter-talkability and interoperability and its importance in disaster response.
€¢    Describe strategies to enhance telecommunication infrastructure preparation for disaster events
€¢    Analyze a risk communications program and sample general public notification.
€¢    Apply strategies for public and media communication in disasters

Textbooks    REQUIRED:
11.    Larson C.E. & LaFasto, F. M. (1989). Teamwork: What Must Go Right/What Can Go Wrong. Newbury Park, CA: SAGE Series in Interpersonal Communication.
€¢    Coppola D.P. & Maloney, E.K. (2009) Communicating Emergency Preparedness. New York: CRC Press.
€¢    Walker, D.C. (2012). Mass Notification and Crisis Communications: Planning, Preparedness and Systems. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press
€¢    Ciottone, G. (2006). Disaster Medicine. Philadelphia: Mosby Elsevier. (online in PhilaU Library through MD Consult)
€¢    NIMS and NRP information
€¢    Various readings will be posted

Examples of resources on the Net library system for reference:
Cooper, D. Leadership for Follower Commitment. Oxford, Boston: Butterworth Heinemann. 2003. (Net library*)
Waugh, W.L. Living with Hazards, Dealing with Disasters: An introduction to Emergency management. NY: ME Sharpe, Inc. 2000 Read Chapter 6(Net library)
Disaster Communications. Mark Wood. Association of Public Safety Officials

http://www.reliefweb.int/library/dc1/dcc1.html

Kotter, J.P. (1996). Leading change. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Review.
Norman, D. A. (2002) The Design of Everyday thing s. New York: Basic Books. Verzuh, E. (2008) The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Ackoff, R.L., Magidson, J., & Addison, H.J. (2010) Idealized Design: how to dissolve tomorrow’s crisis€¦ today. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Kolditz, T.A. (2007) In Extremis Leadership Leading as if your life depended on it. San Francisco CA: Jossey Bass.
Gerzon, M. (2006). Leading through Conflict. Boston: Harvard Business School Press. (mixed reviews so look at this before you buy)
Wheatley, M. (2006). Leadership and the New Science. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
Freedman, D.H. (2000). Corps Business. Harper Business
*Net library instructions: Go to http://www.netlibrary.com/  and search for the text. You read the material from the site so allow time to read.