115-0390/01 – Crisis Management (KRM)

1. Understand the nature and development of corporate crises – students will be able to recognize the features, types, and causes of crises and understand their processual character. 2. Analyse the condition and vulnerability of a company – students will learn to use crisis diagnosis tools, determine the level of a company's crisis vulnerability, and assess the company's ability to continue operating. 3. Propose crisis resolution procedures and revitalization strategies – students will acquire skills to select and apply appropriate measures to handle crisis situations and restore the company. 4. Create and use crisis plans and scenarios – graduates will be able to prepare crisis scenarios, simple crisis plans, assemble a crisis team, and use early warning systems. 5. Apply theoretical knowledge to practical examples – students will be able to link theory with practice when solving model tasks and project-oriented assignments in the field of crisis management.

The course deals with the issue of crisis management in the corporate environment and provides a comprehensive view of the emergence, course, management and prevention of corporate crises in the conditions of the current economy. It responds to the dynamic business environment characterized by globalization, technological changes, increasing competition and a high degree of uncertainty, which significantly affect the stability and long-term existence of organizations. The teachers proceed from the assumption that a corporate crisis is not only a sudden extraordinary event, but a process that develops over time and whose causes can be identified in the early stages. The first part focuses on the nature and dynamics of corporate crises. It defines the basic concepts of crisis management, explains the difference between standard and crisis management and analyzes individual types of crises, such as financial, operational, strategic or personnel. Attention is also paid to the causes of crises, which include managerial failures, human errors, shortcomings in financial management, technological problems or external economic influences. The instructors emphasize the importance of early identification of warning signals and the responsibility of management for the prevention of crisis situations. The second part focuses on managing a company during a crisis. It presents tools for crisis stabilization, restructuring and financial recovery of a company and analyzes the role of management in making decisions under conditions of uncertainty. The explanation also includes issues of organizational changes, relationships with stakeholders and the formulation of a new strategic direction of the organization. The third part is devoted to crisis prevention and building corporate resilience. It deals with risk management, early warning systems, crisis scenarios, crisis planning and the importance of a crisis team, leadership and crisis communication. The teaching is supplemented with practical examples and case studies from corporate practice that illustrate the possibilities of resolving crisis situations. The course represents a comprehensive professional resource connecting crisis management theory with practical management approaches. The course is project-oriented and emphasizes the application of theoretical knowledge in practice. Students work on practical tasks, case studies, and their own project proposals, allowing them to test and develop the skills needed to handle real-life situations. The course is intended for students who want to understand the dynamics of crisis development and resolution, master modern tools and procedures that enable organizations to successfully face unforeseen situations, and at the same time apply theoretical knowledge when solving practical examples in a project-oriented environment.

FALCONE, Paul. The First-Time Manager: Leading Through Crisis (First-Time Manager Series). Nashville: HarperCollins Leadership. 2023. ISBN 978-14-002-4230-6. KLEIN, Štěpán. Firma v krizi. Praha: Effento, 2020. ISBN 978-80-270-7778-6. SCHÖNFELD, Jaroslav a kol. Transformace a restrukturalizace podniku. Praha: C.H. Beck. 2018. ISBN 978-80-7400-690-6.

Discussions during seminars.