Collaboration In Emergency Management

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Collaboration In Emergency Management
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Session Learning Objectives

• Explain the meaning of collaboration in the EM
  context.
• Explain the unique importance of collaboration as
  a principle of EM.
• Describe the hallmarks of a truly collaborative
  approach to EM.
• Analyze and evaluate collaboration as shown in
  case studies.

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Collaboration A bit about Definitions

• Difference between collaboration and coordination
• Coordination a process designed to ensure that
  functions, roles and responsibilities are
  identified and tasks accomplished
• Collaboration an attitude/organizational culture
  that defines the degree of unity and cooperation
  that exists
• I.e., collaboration ensures effective coordination

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Sticky note exercise

• Step 1 on a sticky note, write a two-word
  definition or synonym for collaboration.
• Step 2 post your note along with those of your
  classmates in front of the class.
• Step 3 as a class, group like responses
  together.
• Step 4 work together as a class to agree upon a
  single definition.

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Collaboration Definition

• A recursive process where two or more people or
  organizations work together toward an
  intersection of common goals that is creative in
  nature by sharing knowledge, learning and
  building consensus.

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Nature of Collaboration

• Philosophy of planning and decision making based
  on
• Strong emphasis on attitudes and personal
  interaction
• Informal, consensus building process
• Its more than just working together

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Nature of Collaboration (cont.)

• Does not require leadership
• Achieves results through decentralization and
  egalitarianism
• Encourages introspection of behavior and
  communication
• Aims to increase success of teams in solving
  problems

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Nature of Collaboration (cont.)

• Philosophical departure from top-down command
  and control structure
• Values personal relationships, trust and team
  building
• Being fostered by the internet culture of
  social networking and wide distribution of
  knowledge and opinions aided by technology

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Discussion Questions

• How were our initial (sticky note) definition(s)
  similar to or different from the concepts just
  discussed? Why?
• How do you feel about the use of the term
  decentralization in the definition? Why might
  this be important in writing a disaster plan or
  dealing with an actual disaster?

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Discussion Questions (cont.)

• What do you think is meant by the term
  egalitarian and the statement that
  collaboration does not require leadership?
• How do you think these concepts might improve or
  detract from the planning and decision-informing
  process?

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The Importance of Collaboration

• Represents the most human aspect of successful
  EM
• Importance is magnified by the general lack of
  formal authority inherent in EM
• EM results are achieved through interpersonal and
  facilitation skills

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EMs are normally frustrated because they are
typically type A personalities with no
authority!
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The job of the EM is to tell people things they
dont want to hear, spend money they dont have,
preparing for something they dont believe will
ever happen!
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The Importance of Collaboration

• Plans must be based on consensus and buy-in
• Collaboration is built during the planning and
  preparedness phase of EM
• Can be seen in the difference between having a
  plan and engaging in planning

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In preparing for battle, I have always found
that plans are useless, but planning is
indispensable Gen. Dwight
D. Eisenhower
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Importance of Collaboration

• Enhances understanding and commitment to the plan
  rather than mere acceptance
• Collaboration more important as size complexity
  of the event increases
• Collaboration is how conflicts and ambiguities
  are avoided
• Collaboration is necessary in all phases of EM,
  not just preparedness and response

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If we shake hands before a disaster, we wont
have to point fingers afterwardsYou dont
want to meet some one for the first time while
youre standing around in the rubble
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Elements of Effective Collaboration

• Inclusion of all potential players in planning
  and preparedness
• Consistent contact necessary to make the system
  work in a disaster
• Sincerity in efforts to listen to all players and
  incorporate their concerns and ideas

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Element of Inclusion

• Related to the basic POEM principle of
  comprehensive from Session 3
• EMs must define the universe of stakeholders as
  broadly as possible
• EMs should look at those affected by as well as
  those who respond to disasters
• Issues of social and economic inequity are
  considered

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The Element of Consistency

• Required to maintain and sustain strong trust and
  team relationships
• Must take into account changes in personnel,
  policies and cultures of involved organization

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U.S. Forest Service Philosophy

• Relationships mutual recognition and respect
• The process must treat all participants fairly
  and consistently
• Decisions must be solutions that can be
  implemented, satisfy the interest of all, and can
  be corrected and modified in the future

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The Element of Sincerity

• Collaboration depend on the degree to which
  partners perceive there is a sincere desire to
  identify and value their ideas and concerns
• Requires a genuine commitment to working as a
  team
• Lip service or going through the motions
  doesnt produce true collaboration

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Case Studies in Collaboration

• The Battle of the Badges How culture and
  tradition can challenge collaboration
• Building Partnerships Outside-In How even
  non-traditional organizations can build
  collaborative EM processes
• State College, PA How a community can build a
  culture of collaboration

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Case Study 1 Discussion

• To what degree do the deep-seated and traditional
  cultures of the two response groups complicate
  the process of effective collaboration?
• How compatible do you think Mayor Giulianis
  command directives were with collaboration?
• How effective is simply putting one agency in
  charge?

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Case Study 1 Discussion

• How effective is simply putting one agency in
  charge?
• In what ways are the White Plains and
  Charlotte-Mecklenburg approaches better or worse
  than those of NYC?
• How do you think the approach of Phoenix
  parallels what we have discussed in this session?

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Case Study 2 Discussion

• As compared to Case Study 1, how important a
  role do you think turf played in this case?
• How does the nature of the institution/
  profession seem to affect the nature of the
  collaborative approach?
• How would you characterize the interaction of the
  museum group with the professional NYC OEM
  personnel?

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Case Study 3 Discussion

• How did each element of the planning process of
  State College, PA relate to the principles of
  collaboration discussed in this session?
• What conclusions can we draw about the concepts
  of leadership, equality, facilitation, sincerity,
  inclusion and continuous collaboration as seen in
  this case?