Training as We Will Fight: Institutionalizing Permanent Joint Task Forces Within the Unified Commands and Abolishing the Just in Time" Approach to Crisis Management"

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael R. Fenzel
Keyword(s):  
Crisis Management ◽  
Just In Time ◽  
Task Forces ◽  
Joint Task

Outpacing the pandemic? A factorial survey on decision speed of COVID-19 task forces

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-202
Author(s):  
Reto M. Wegmann ◽  
Laura Schärrer
Keyword(s):  
Crisis Management ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Chief Executive ◽  
Factorial Survey ◽  
Multilevel Regression ◽  
Team Collaboration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Task Forces ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Decision Speed

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to determine how individual competencies, team collaboration and clear assignment of tasks and roles predict the decision speed of temporary task forces employed to handle the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.Design/methodology/approachThis study analyzes COVID-19 task forces and bases of previous research on the performance of temporary teams and human and social capital literature. Linear multilevel regression is used with data from a factorial survey, covering six different continents, various industries and leadership levels from chief executive officers (CEOs) to specialist task force members.FindingsThe study reveals that all analyzed predictors (individual competencies, team collaboration and assignment of tasks and roles) are positively associated with the task force decision speed, with the individual competencies standing out in importance.Practical implicationsTeam member selection is likely to be one of the first tasks necessary when such a temporary task force is created. Additionally, competent individuals might be successful even when not embedded in clear structures and even when not working in their own specialist roles.Originality/valueThe sudden pandemic outbreak of COVID-19 disrupted governments, corporations and individual people alike. As handling a pandemic is new for most involved people, and many such task forces are shown to be manned by personnel not formally trained in crisis management, this study's results represent important contributions to team performance, decision-making and crisis management literature in general. Furthermore, avenues for further research into the comparative analysis of predictors are revealed.

Outpacing the pandemic?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Crisis Management ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Management Training ◽  
Transformational Leaders ◽  
Multilevel Regression ◽  
Team Collaboration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Task Forces ◽  
Team Selection ◽  
Decision Speed

Purpose The purpose of the study is to determine which of individual competencies, team collaboration and clarity of roles and tasks assigned predict the decision speed of such task forces and which have the most impact. Design/methodology/approach The study looked at data from six continents and participants were at different organizational levels. Using a vignette methodology the data was examined using a factorial analysis by linear multilevel regression. Findings All of the independent variables contribute to high decision speed. Individual competencies seem to be the most important predictor of performance. Prior crisis management training appears to be associated with higher expectations regarding clarity of tasks and roles. It is possible that competent individuals are effective both independently and when influenced by transformational leaders. Research limitations/implications Limitations: decision speed was measured using only one item, the measurement of decision speed was based on the perceptions of respondents, the snowballing technique gives little control over the representativeness of the sampling. Strengths: the methodology was such as to be able to reach a sample of experts quickly, the rapid implementation of the study contribute to a better understanding of temporary organizations in crisis management. Practical implications The study suggests that selection of task force members is important but also that competent individuals can be effective even when not working in their specialist roles or embedded in clear structures. Team selection is therefore of great importance. Originality/value The simplicity of the design is such as to elicit an adequate response rate from a global sample of professionals even though they were under pressure in managing a crisis. The value of this study is enhanced by the speed at which it was conducted and its results were published.

POLISH MILITARY SECURITY DOCTRINE IN THE YEARS 2004-2014 – SELECTED ASPECTS

2017 ◽  
Vol 184 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-73
Author(s):  
Paweł RYBARCZYK
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Task Forces ◽  
Centralized Management ◽  
Joint Task ◽  
Major Development ◽  
Development Direction ◽  
Military Security ◽  
Chain Of Command ◽  
Military Structure ◽  
Regional Interests

In view of today's physical threats, Poland has adopted a new security doctrine. This publication in its assumption intends to outline the thesis on the centralized management and command of the unified military structure, in the context of the systemic approach to our country defense strategy. The study contemplates the Russia's policy, aimed at strengthening its position of a global great power in terms of weakening ties within North Atlantic Treaty Organization, with a particular focus on the regional interests of each of its members. The presented concept of the contemporary army based on joint task forces, characterized by close co-operation of various types of forces and efficient logistics, managed by the modern chain of command, is the major development direction in the field of defense. It is of crucial importance to reorganize our military forces in correlation to the hybrid dimension of contemporary war conflicts.

Task Forces as Silver Bullets for Crisis Management

2021 ◽  
pp. 240-253
Author(s):  
Laura Schärrer ◽  
Reto M. Wegmann
Keyword(s):  
Crisis Management ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
Success Factor ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Task Forces ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Day To Day Operations ◽  
Medium Enterprises

In 2020, the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) triggered a global health crisis, disrupting economies, societies, and private companies. Organizations faced urgent challenges, and most of them installed so called “task forces” to respond. Small or medium enterprises (SMEs), which play a major role in most economies, however, often encounter problems of limited resources to do so. The purpose of this chapter is to derive theoretical and practical implications on how such crises can be handled. A literature review identifies the characteristics of successful task forces and then validates them with a case study of a Swiss transport company during COVID-19, which is based on multiple interviews with the CEO between Spring 2020 and in Fall 2020. The findings include that task forces are crucial for SMEs despite their limited resources. A critical success factor is the quality of human resources, which demands careful selection. Concepts used in crisis management can also be applied in day-to-day operations to increase the organization's resilience and also general profitability.

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