MAN 5124 Crisis Management and Logistics

MAN 5124 Crisis Management and Logistics

Course code: 
MAN 5124
Department: 
Accounting and Operations Management
Credits: 
15
Course coordinator: 
Marianne Jahre
Course name in Norwegian: 
Kriseledelse og -logistikk
Product category: 
Executive
Portfolio: 
EMM - Security management and Cultural understanding, Specialisation
Semester: 
2022 Autumn
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Master
Teaching language: 
Norwegian
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

The course is part of the programme in security management and cultural understanding but can also be taken independently of this programme. Key theme is crisis management and logistics. An essential part in any crisis preparedness, response and recovery is the organization of supply chains and logistics to secure access to goods and services. The security concept in this course is first and foremost linked to supply security to reestablish and maintain societal supply security as international, national and (inter-) organizational levels. This requires establishing good logistics preparedness to respond when the crisis has occurred. Political instability and climate change result in more conflicts and natural disasters globally with huge consequences of more affected populations and economic destruction. The course covers causes and consequences of new security challenges for actors in the preparedness system including municipalities, government, non-governmental organizations, civil preparedness, defense, commercial companies, and funding agencies.

The course includes three main themes, starting with an overview of national and international context and the different actors involved in preparedness and response and the need for cooperation and coordination focusing logistics and supply. Then strategic crisis management including tools for risk- and preparedness analysis, logistics planning and set-up of preparedness for involved actors. The third and final module concerns logistics operations, and operational crisis management.

The first theme introduces key concepts and provides an overview of crisis management, historical development, and trends. The participants get an introduction to conceptual frameworks for mapping logistics and supply chains. The different actors’ roles in crisis preparedness and response are presented. International and national coordination and cooperation are discussed and problematized.

The second theme goes through key elements in development of good preparedness including risk and vulnerability analysis, preparedness analysis and strategies for development of logistics preparedness.

The third theme concerns activities in an operation from planning and needs assessment, procurement, and mobilization of physical, financial, and human resources for logistics tasks including transport, storage, reporting and distribution. The participants apply their knowledge in a table-top simulation. Operative crisis leadership particularly accounting for ethical dilemmas in the field is also covered.

The course will support participants in acquiring abilities to work with developing and implementing sustainable crisis prepared and response in different contexts. Through relevant tools, knowledge and understanding the course aims to provide participants with a good basis for handling new crises, whether at organizational, national, or international level. The course is rooted in Bis overall aim of preparing human resources and organizations for an international. Digital and sustainable future. It covers crisis management and logistics at global and national level, in public, private and voluntary sectors; it analysis the relationship between global and local challenges and relate to Sustainable Development Goals number 3, 6, 9, 16 and 17.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

Candidates should be able to apply theories and research methods in the field of crisis management and logistics to:

  • acquire advanced knowledge within crisis management and specialized insight in logistical aspects of strategic and operative crisis management
  • acquire advanced knowledge of key frameworks, terminology, and tools – digital and others - in the crisis management field
  • acquire advanced knowledge of key stakeholders, historical development and traditional vs. new approaches in the crisis management and logistics field
  • acquire advanced knowledge of challenges and solutions for cooperation and coordination between actors in the total defense preparedness
  • acquire advanced knowledge of use of new knowledge from academia, media, and other open sources to analyze and evaluate challenges and measures at strategic and operative level and use this as basis for crisis management and supply security
  • acquire advanced knowledge of research methods in crisis management and logistics and use of this for problem definition, data collection and analysis
Learning outcomes - Skills

The programme is developed with the aim to improve participants’ analytical tools for use in international and national crises, providing them with a basis for managing and influencing measures for improvements in preparedness and response. Participants should be able to understand and engage in bringing in relevant information, research, and applications of theory. Through independent work based on open sources and in accordance with ethical guidelines they should be able to:

  • conduct risk and preparedness analysis
  • analyze, evaluate, and contribute to development of crisis management, logistics preparedness and response
  • analyze and deal critically with various sources of information and use them to discuss and analyze practical problems and cases
  • can carry out an independent, limited study under supervision and in accordance with applicable norms for research ethics
  • can apply key frameworks, terminology and tools on practical problems and cases
General Competence

After finishing the course, the participants should have acquired a holistic perspective on crisis management and logistics and be capable of independently analyze and evaluate strategic and ethical questions, in order to

  • Make decisions independently and contribute to decision processes and development of measures in crisis management and logistics
  • Take responsibility and lead others in an independent, ethical and sensible way
  • Evaluate own skills and limitations regarding different solutions
  • Contribute to new thinking and innovation in crisis management at national and global levels in private, public and voluntary organizations
  • Apply critical thinking (based on theory and experience) to evaluate strengths and weaknesses of different measures in political and social context
  • Communicate efficiently with other actors involved in crisis management and logistics at strategic and operative levels
Course content

Module 1: Arena

  • Key terms, historical development and trends
  • National and international context, frameworks, preparedness principles
  • Framework for mapping supply chains and logistics
  • Different actors’ role in the Norwegian preparedness system  - civil defence, voluntary organizations, non-governments and multi-lateral organizations, government, municipalities, private companies and defense
  • Case-discussion: Coordination – challenges and solutions
  • Paradigm shift in crisis management
  • Research methods for crisis logistics

Module 2: Preparedness

  • ROS-analysis
  • Preparedness analysis
  • Development of logistics preparedness: needs estimation, strategic planning and selection of logistics strategies
  • Case assignment: strategic planning
  • Supervision of term paper

 Moduel 3: Response

  • Logistics activities in response – operations management
  • Ethical dilemmas in crisis leadership
  • Process from needs assessment to moblisation and demobilization of financial, material, and human resources
  • Table-top simulation: Operative crisis management
  • Crisis management and leadership
  • Logistikkaktiviteter i respons – hvordan lede operasjoner
  • Local responsers’ role in crisis management
  • Supervision of term paper
Teaching and learning activities

Nine teaching days in three 3-day modules, amounting to 72 hours. The students must expect to use at least 400 study hours, which is the norm for 15 ECTS. In addition, students have one reading day per week and some extra time for working on the term paper. Students are responsible for obtaining information given in the lectures not posted on the program website/itslearning or in other course material.

We recommend you taking the E-learning course at http://www.buildingabetterresponse.org/ offered by Harvard for free. It will give you a good introduction to and understanding of the international context, with a particular focus on humanitarian assistance. Attendance in simulations/trainings during the course is strongly recommended.

The students are evaluated based on and individual home examination and a term paper written in groups of up to three persons accounting for 15 ECTS credits. We recommend starting the work on the term paper early to supplement classroom learning. The term paper should be 15-20 pages and will concern application of methods, tools, and concepts on a situation in practice, e.g. from own workplace. 

In all BI Executive courses and programs, there is a mutual requirement for the student and the course responsible regarding the involvement of the student's experience in the planning and implementation of courses, modules and programmes. This means that the student has the right and duty to get involved with their own knowledge and practice relevance, through the active sharing of their relevant experience and knowledge.

Software tools
No specified computer-based tools are required.
Qualifications

Bachelor degree, corresponding to 180 credits from an accredited university, university college or similar educational institution. The applicant must be at least 25 years of age. At least four years of work experience. For applicants who have already completed a master’s degree, three years of work experience are required. (two years of work experience are required for applicants employed at The Norwegian Armed Forces)

Disclaimer
Deviations in teaching and exams may occur if external conditions or unforeseen events call for this.

Exam categoryWeightInvigilationDurationGroupingComment exam
Exam category:
Submission
Form of assessment:
Written submission
Exam code:
MAN 51241
Grading scale:
ECTS
Grading rules:
Internal and external examiner
Resit:
Examination when next scheduled course
60No1 Semester(s)Group/Individual (1 - 3)
Exam category:
Submission
Form of assessment:
Written submission
Exam code:
MAN 51242
Grading scale:
ECTS
Grading rules:
Internal and external examiner
Resit:
Examination when next scheduled course
40No72 Hour(s)Individual
Exams:
Exam category:Submission
Form of assessment:Written submission
Weight:60
Invigilation:No
Grouping (size):Group/Individual (1-3)
Duration:1 Semester(s)
Comment:
Exam code:MAN 51241
Grading scale:ECTS
Resit:Examination when next scheduled course
Exam category:Submission
Form of assessment:Written submission
Weight:40
Invigilation:No
Grouping (size):Individual
Duration:72 Hour(s)
Comment:
Exam code:MAN 51242
Grading scale:ECTS
Resit:Examination when next scheduled course
Type of Assessment: 
Ordinary examination
All exams must be passed to get a grade in this course.
Total weight: 
100
Student workload
ActivityDurationComment
Teaching
72 Hour(s)
Prepare for teaching
79 Hour(s)
Student's own work with learning resources
150 Hour(s)
Examination
24 Hour(s)
Work with 72 hour take home exam.
Examination
75 Hour(s)
Work with term paper.
Sum workload: 
400

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 15 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 400 hours.