PRL 2001 Issues Management and Strategic Planning

STAFFING:

SYNOPSIS:

This course assumes the management perspective that when organizations are faced with an issue either accidental or intentional that significantly disrupts normal operations, effective communication is essential. Students will be made aware of potential issues affecting the public and private sectors and required to develop their individual skills in planning and implementing communication management strategies which reflect their ability to adapt to specific workplace needs. In their efforts to minimise risks and to deal with them students will examine risk identification, advance preparation, environmental surveillance, crisis management planning, and evaluation. At all times students will be encouraged to develop a commitment to ethical and responsible practices as part of the on-going development of effective issues management strategies and to develop appropriate communication policies used to facilitate issues management plans.

OBJECTIVES:

On completion of this course students will be able to:

1. clarify the purposes of an issues management program and understand the importance of proper and legitimate planning
2. establish mechanisms and develop standards for issues management scanning that alert of potential crisis and immediate means to deal with such situations
3. formalise an issues management structure
4. develop offensive activities that enable the co-ordination, control, analysis and reporting of strategic management procedures
5. know how to develop positive relationships with key publics

TOPICS:

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed:

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

To be advised

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   It is the student's responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratories and practical work) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   To complete each of the assessment items satisfactorily, students must obtain at least 50% of the marks available for each assessment item.
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   If students submit assignments after the due date without prior approval, then a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the assignment will apply for each of the first FIVE working days late, after which a zero mark will be given.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   To be assured of a passing grade, students must demonstrate, via the summative assessment items, that they have achieved the required minimum standards in relation to the objectives of the course by: (i) satisfactorily completing all assignments; and (ii) obtaining at least 50% of the total weighted marks for all summative assessment items.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks (or grades) obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
6. Examination information:
   There is no exam for this course.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   Given the details under (6) above, there are no deferred exams for this course. However, if any deferred/makeup work is granted, it would have to be submitted by a date set by the examiner.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

ASSESSMENT NOTES