collaboration in emergency management a principle of emergency management

Collaboration In Emergency Collaboration In Emergency ManagementManagement

A Principle of Emergency ManagementA Principle of Emergency Management

Session Learning ObjectivesSession Learning Objectives

Explain the meaning of “collaboration” in Explain the meaning of “collaboration” in the EM context.the EM context.

Explain the unique importance of Explain the unique importance of collaboration as a principle of EM.collaboration as a principle of EM.

Describe the “hallmarks” of a truly Describe the “hallmarks” of a truly collaborative approach to EM.collaborative approach to EM.

Analyze and evaluate collaboration as Analyze and evaluate collaboration as shown in case studies.shown in case studies.

Collaboration: A bit about Collaboration: A bit about DefinitionsDefinitions

Difference between collaboration and Difference between collaboration and coordinationcoordinationCoordination: a process designed to ensure Coordination: a process designed to ensure

that functions, roles and responsibilities are that functions, roles and responsibilities are identified and tasks accomplishedidentified and tasks accomplished

Collaboration: an attitude/organizational culture Collaboration: an attitude/organizational culture that defines the degree of unity and cooperation that defines the degree of unity and cooperation that exists that exists

I.e., collaboration ensures effective coordinationI.e., collaboration ensures effective coordination

““Sticky note exercise:Sticky note exercise:

Step 1: on a “sticky” note, write a two-word Step 1: on a “sticky” note, write a two-word definition or synonym for “collaboration”.definition or synonym for “collaboration”.

Step 2: post your note along with those of Step 2: post your note along with those of your classmates in front of the class.your classmates in front of the class.

Step 3: as a class, group like responses Step 3: as a class, group like responses together.together.

Step 4: work together as a class to agree Step 4: work together as a class to agree upon a single definition.upon a single definition.

Collaboration: DefinitionCollaboration: Definition

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

Nature of CollaborationNature of Collaboration

Philosophy of planning and decision Philosophy of planning and decision making based on:making based on:Strong emphasis on attitudes and personal Strong emphasis on attitudes and personal

interactioninteraction Informal, consensus building processInformal, consensus building process

It’s more than just “working together”It’s more than just “working together”

Nature of Collaboration (cont.)Nature of Collaboration (cont.)

Does not require leadershipDoes not require leadershipAchieves results through decentralization Achieves results through decentralization

and egalitarianismand egalitarianismEncourages introspection of behavior and Encourages introspection of behavior and

communicationcommunicationAims to increase success of teams in Aims to increase success of teams in

solving problemssolving problems

Nature of Collaboration (cont.)Nature of Collaboration (cont.)

Philosophical departure from “top-down” Philosophical departure from “top-down” command and control structurecommand and control structure

Values personal relationships, trust and Values personal relationships, trust and team buildingteam building

Being fostered by the “internet” culture of Being fostered by the “internet” culture of social networking and wide distribution of social networking and wide distribution of knowledge and opinions aided by knowledge and opinions aided by technologytechnology

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

How were our initial (sticky note) How were our initial (sticky note) definition(s) similar to or different from the definition(s) similar to or different from the concepts just discussed? Why?concepts just discussed? Why?

How do you feel about the use of the term How do you feel about the use of the term “decentralization” in the definition? Why “decentralization” in the definition? Why might this be important in writing a disaster might this be important in writing a disaster plan or dealing with an actual disaster?plan or dealing with an actual disaster?

Discussion Questions (cont.)Discussion Questions (cont.)

What do you think is meant by the term What do you think is meant by the term “egalitarian” and the statement that “egalitarian” and the statement that collaboration does not require collaboration does not require “leadership”? “leadership”?

How do you think these concepts might How do you think these concepts might improve or detract from the planning and improve or detract from the planning and decision-informing process?decision-informing process?

The Importance of CollaborationThe Importance of Collaboration

Represents the most “human” aspect of Represents the most “human” aspect of successful EMsuccessful EM

Importance is magnified by the general Importance is magnified by the general lack of formal “authority” inherent in EMlack of formal “authority” inherent in EM

EM results are achieved through EM results are achieved through interpersonal and facilitation skillsinterpersonal and facilitation skills

““EMs are normally EMs are normally frustrated because they are frustrated because they are

typically “type A” typically “type A” personalities with no personalities with no

authority!”authority!”

““The job of the EM is to tell The job of the EM is to tell people things they don’t people things they don’t

want to hear, spend money want to hear, spend money they don’t have, preparing they don’t have, preparing for something they don’t for something they don’t

believe will ever happen!”believe will ever happen!”

The Importance of CollaborationThe Importance of Collaboration

Plans must be based on consensus and Plans must be based on consensus and “buy-in”“buy-in”

Collaboration is built during the planning Collaboration is built during the planning and preparedness phase of EMand preparedness phase of EM

Can be seen in the difference between Can be seen in the difference between having a “plan” and engaging in “planning”having a “plan” and engaging in “planning”

““In preparing for battle, I In preparing for battle, I have always found that have always found that plans are useless, but plans are useless, but

planning is indispensable”planning is indispensable” Gen. Dwight D. EisenhowerGen. Dwight D. Eisenhower

Importance of CollaborationImportance of Collaboration

Enhances Enhances understandingunderstanding and and commitmentcommitment to the plan rather than mere acceptanceto the plan rather than mere acceptance

Collaboration more important as size & Collaboration more important as size & complexity of the event increasescomplexity of the event increases

Collaboration is how conflicts and Collaboration is how conflicts and ambiguities are avoidedambiguities are avoided

Collaboration is necessary in all phases of Collaboration is necessary in all phases of EM, not just preparedness and responseEM, not just preparedness and response

““If we shake hands before a If we shake hands before a disaster, we won’t have to disaster, we won’t have to point fingers afterwards”point fingers afterwards”

“You don’t want to meet “You don’t want to meet someone for the first time someone for the first time

while you’re standing while you’re standing around in the rubble”around in the rubble”

Collaborating with OthersCollaborating with Others

Collaboration is essential when authority is shared and when resources and expertise are dispersed. Often no one agency has complete authority and, even if one did, attempting to exercise that authority without buy-in by the other stakeholders might result in minimal compliance or even noncompliance. Other stakeholders may well have resources and expertise that cannot be found in government agencies.


The list of stakeholders can be extensive and those with critical resources can range from WalMart and Home Depot, large international companies, to small “mom and pop” stores. They can include civic organizations, like the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and faith-based organizations.


Hundreds nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) may be created to address needs during a major disaster and there are already thousands of NGOs that have missions ranging from emergency sheltering and mass feeding to rescuing animals and protecting children


There are also hundreds of stakeholders with missions related to disaster recovery and post-disaster redevelopment. For example, the American Red Cross provided case workers to assist evacuees before, during, and after Hurricane Katrina made landfall in 2005. Volunteer psychologists and psychiatrists provided counseling services to New York City residents suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related problems following 9/11.


The private and nongovernmental stakeholders represent the nation’s surge capacity. They can provide expertise and resources that the government cannot provide and they are critical resources during catastrophic events.

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

Why was collaboration described above as “touchy feely?”

Why is trust an essential foundation for collaboration?

What problems are likely to arise if a government agency attempts to manage a disaster without having developed long-term collaborative relationships with the major stakeholders who may be involved in the disaster response?

Elements of Effective CollaborationElements of Effective Collaboration

Inclusion of all potential players in Inclusion of all potential players in planning and preparednessplanning and preparedness

Consistent contact necessary to make the Consistent contact necessary to make the system work in a disastersystem work in a disaster

Sincerity in efforts to listen to all players Sincerity in efforts to listen to all players and incorporate their concerns and ideasand incorporate their concerns and ideas

Element of “Inclusion”Element of “Inclusion”

Related to the basic POEM principle of Related to the basic POEM principle of “comprehensive” from Session 3“comprehensive” from Session 3

EMs must define the “universe” of EMs must define the “universe” of stakeholders as broadly as possiblestakeholders as broadly as possible

EMs should look at those EMs should look at those affectedaffected by as by as well as those who well as those who respondrespond to disasters to disasters

Issues of social and economic “inequity” Issues of social and economic “inequity” are consideredare considered

The Element of “Consistency”The Element of “Consistency”

Required to maintain and sustain strong Required to maintain and sustain strong trust and team relationshipstrust and team relationships

Must take into account changes in Must take into account changes in personnel, policies and cultures of personnel, policies and cultures of involved organizationinvolved organization

U.S. Forest Service PhilosophyU.S. Forest Service Philosophy

Relationships: mutual recognition and Relationships: mutual recognition and respectrespect

The process must treat all participants The process must treat all participants fairly and consistentlyfairly and consistently

Decisions must be solutions that can be Decisions must be solutions that can be implemented, satisfy the interest of all, and implemented, satisfy the interest of all, and can be corrected and modified in the can be corrected and modified in the future future

The Element of Sincerity The Element of Sincerity

Collaboration depend on the degree to Collaboration depend on the degree to which partners perceive there is a sincere which partners perceive there is a sincere desire to identify and value their ideas and desire to identify and value their ideas and concernsconcerns

Requires a genuine commitment to Requires a genuine commitment to working as a “team”working as a “team”

““Lip service” or going through the motions Lip service” or going through the motions doesn’t produce true collaborationdoesn’t produce true collaboration

Case Studies in CollaborationCase Studies in Collaboration

““The Battle of the Badges” The Battle of the Badges” – How culture – How culture and tradition can challenge collaborationand tradition can challenge collaboration

““Building Partnerships Outside-In Building Partnerships Outside-In – How – How even non-traditional organizations can even non-traditional organizations can build collaborative EM processesbuild collaborative EM processes

““State College, PA” – How a community State College, PA” – How a community can build a culture of collaborationcan build a culture of collaboration

Case Study #1: DiscussionCase Study #1: Discussion

To what degree do the deep-seated and To what degree do the deep-seated and traditional cultures of the two response traditional cultures of the two response groups complicate the process of effective groups complicate the process of effective collaboration?collaboration?

How compatible do you think Mayor How compatible do you think Mayor Giuliani’s command directives were with Giuliani’s command directives were with “collaboration”?“collaboration”?

How effective is simply putting one agency How effective is simply putting one agency “in charge”?“in charge”?


How effective is simply putting one agency How effective is simply putting one agency “in charge”?“in charge”?

In what ways are the White Plains and In what ways are the White Plains and Charlotte-Mecklenburg approaches better Charlotte-Mecklenburg approaches better or worse than those of NYC?or worse than those of NYC?

How do you think the approach of Phoenix How do you think the approach of Phoenix parallels what we have discussed in this parallels what we have discussed in this session?session?


As compared to Case Study #1, how As compared to Case Study #1, how important a role do you think “turf” played important a role do you think “turf” played in this case?in this case?

How does the nature of the institution/ How does the nature of the institution/ profession seem to affect the nature of the profession seem to affect the nature of the collaborative approach?collaborative approach?

How would you characterize the How would you characterize the interaction of the museum group with the interaction of the museum group with the professional NYC – OEM personnel?professional NYC – OEM personnel?

Case Study # 3: DiscussionCase Study # 3: Discussion

How did each element of the planning How did each element of the planning process of State College, PA relate to the process of State College, PA relate to the principles of collaboration discussed in this principles of collaboration discussed in this session?session?

What conclusions can we draw about the What conclusions can we draw about the concepts of leadership, equality, concepts of leadership, equality, facilitation, sincerity, inclusion and facilitation, sincerity, inclusion and continuous collaboration as seen in this continuous collaboration as seen in this case?case?

collaboration in emergency management a principle of emergency management

Documents

meaning of collaboration

em em results

em context

technology slide

effective coordination

coordination coordination

process informal

recursive process