Meet with your group quickly and settle on an organization and specific situation the group will research for the first week. Your goal for each assignment is to choose a high-profile crisis which has occurred within the last few months. You need to be able to reference as much fresh information as possible, so choose a large organization and an impactful crisis situation. Your group will choose a different crisis to research for each research brief.
For background information, I suggest you research the organization and relevant industry through the SWU Library. Then move on to the specific crisis, covered in the recent business press. Heather Gray is a wonderful source for you in the SWU Library.
Let me remind you that you will be researching and writing about the business implications of the crisis you have chosen. There are many human and societal consequences from every large crisis, but don’t get distracted – stay focused on the organization you chose and its institutional and individual responses to the crisis.
Deliverable:
Have only one teammate upload the Word document in Canvas. Do not upload a PDF file.
A three-page (exclusive of title page, reference page, appendices, etc.) executive brief on the organization and specific crisis is due Monday night at midnight ET. See a suggested template below. Assume your group has prepared this information over the last several days for presentation to senior level management. Each in brief should be APA formatted, double-spaced, with a minimum of three quality reference articles with appropriate in-text citations. The references must be appropriately cited and placed in a references page per APA requirements.
I urge you to spend quality time with your team this week. The more work you put in during the first week, the smoother the rest of the term will go for your research.
APA format and Mechanics
- Includes in text citations in proper APA format
- Includes a reference page in APA format
- Proper spelling/grammar
- Proper mechanics and sentence/paragraph structure
- Timeliness
Executive Brief Template: Researching a Company Crisis
Suggested Outline
- Overview of the crisis situation
- Background information on the company and industry
- Specific details on the crisis situation
- Key insights and observations
- Risk analysis and potential implications
- Consideration of legal and regulatory implications
- Impact assessment on various stakeholders
Note: The contents of an executive brief on a company crisis may vary depending on the specific crisis, the industry, and the organization’s needs. It is essential to tailor the brief to address the unique circumstances and requirements of the crisis at hand.
Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!
Step-by-Step Guide for Structuring Your Three‑Page Executive Brief
Step 1: Select Your Crisis and Organization (Day 1)
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Group Huddle: Convene virtually or in person.
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Criteria: High-profile, within the last 3–6 months, ample news coverage.
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Decision: Agree on one crisis (e.g., data breach at a major retailer, product recall at an auto manufacturer).
Step 2: Conduct Background Research (Days 1–2)
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SWU Library Databases: Company annual reports, industry analyses.
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Business Press: Use sources like Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Wall Street Journal.
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Heather Gray Resources: Leverage specialized case studies in the SWU Library.
Step 3: Gather Crisis Details (Days 2–3)
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Timeline: Document when the crisis began, key events, and company responses.
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Primary Statements: CEO memos, press releases, regulatory filings.
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Media Coverage: Note public sentiment and recurring themes.
Step 4: Draft the Executive Brief Outline (Day 3)
Use the provided template headings:
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Overview of the Crisis Situation
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Company & Industry Background
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Specific Crisis Details
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Key Insights & Observations
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Risk Analysis & Potential Implications
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Legal/Regulatory Considerations
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Stakeholder Impact Assessment
Step 5: Write Section by Section (Days 4–5)
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Overview: 1 paragraph summarizing the crisis.
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Background: 2–3 paragraphs on company size, market position, industry dynamics.
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Details: 2–3 paragraphs with facts, figures, and timeline of the crisis.
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Insights: Bullet or short paragraphs highlighting your observations.
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Risk Analysis: Identify operational, reputational, and financial risks.
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Legal/Regulatory: Summarize any investigations, fines, or compliance issues.
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Stakeholder Impact: Discuss employees, customers, investors, regulators.
Step 6: Integrate APA Citations & References (Day 5)
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In‑Text Citations: After every fact or quote (Author, Year).
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Reference Page: List at least 3 recent (last 5 years) quality sources.
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Formatting: Double‑spaced, 12‑pt Times New Roman, 1″ margins.
Step 7: Review & Revise (Day 6)
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Peer Review: Swap briefs with another teammate for feedback.
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Checklist:
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Covered all template sections?
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APA mechanics correct?
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Spelling and grammar polished?
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Finalize: Incorporate edits and prepare the Word document.
Step 8: Submission (Day 7)
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Single Upload: One teammate submits the Word file to Canvas.
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Confirmation: Verify upload and review for completeness.
Recommended Resources
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SWU Library Portal – Corporate profiles & industry reports
https://swu.edu/library -
Heather Gray Research Guides – Case studies & crisis analyses
https://hbr.org -
Forbes – Recent organizational crisis articles
https://forbes.com
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