An empirical study on approaches to ambiguity in emergency and disaster response decision-making

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 355
Author(s):  
Christian Uhr, PhD ◽  
Henrik Tehler, PhD ◽  
Misse Wester, PhD
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Study ◽  
Disaster Management ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Risk Tolerance ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Professional Experience ◽  
Problem Solver ◽  
Ambiguity Tolerance ◽  
Personality Tests ◽  
Problem Solving Process

Results from previous research suggest that the ability to manage ambiguous problems during acute emergency and disaster management is a desirable quality among decision-makers. Ambiguity is a perception that arises when the problem-solver is dissatisfied with his or her understanding of the structure of the problem, and consequently of the problem-solving process. This article presents the results of an empirical study of ambiguity tolerance among Swedish fire commanders. Two different personality tests have been employed. The findings show that the sampled fire commanders are no more ambiguity tolerant than other individuals with no experience of emergency and disaster management; consequently, there appears to be no correlation between ambiguity tolerance and this professional role. Commanders who see themselves as practically oriented are more ambiguity tolerant than those who see themselves as academics. Increasing professional experience and age decreases the frequency of situations in which commanders experience some form of ambiguity. However, experience and age do not affect tolerance if ambiguity is perceived. No correlation between risk tolerance and ambiguity tolerance is found. More research needs to be conducted on how ambiguity tolerance affects performance among decision- makers during emergency and disaster responses.

Systems thinking, a consilience of values and logic

2005 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 259-274
Author(s):  
Sameer Kumar ◽  
Thomas Ressler ◽  
Mark Ahrens
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Systems Thinking ◽  
Qualitative Reasoning ◽  
Colleges And Universities ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Problem Solving Process ◽  
Problem Solvers

This article is an appeal to incorporate qualitative reasoning into quantitative topics and courses, especially those devoted to decision-making offered in colleges and universities. Students, many of whom join professional workforce, must become more systems thinkers and decision-makers than merely problem-solvers. This will entail discussion of systems thinking, not just reaching “the answer”. Managers will need to formally and forcefully discuss objectives and values at each stage of the problem-solving process – at the start, during the problem-solving stage, and at the interpretation of the results stage – in order to move from problem solving to decision-making. The authors suggest some methods for doing this, and provide examples of why doing so is so important for decision-makers in the modern world.

scholarly journals A Decision Model for Emergency Warehouse Location Based on a Novel Stochastic MCDA Method: Evidence from China

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junkang He ◽  
Chenpeng Feng ◽  
Dan Hu ◽  
Liang Liang
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Response ◽  
Decision Model ◽  
Complex Problem ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Location Decision ◽  
Preference Information ◽  
Inaccurate Information ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Warehouse Location ◽  
Method Evidence

China is one of the disaster-prone countries in the world. Constructing a rapid and effective relief logistic system is important for disaster-responding at country level. Strategic prepositioning of emergency items, especially the decision of appropriate emergency warehouses location, has significant impacts on rapid disaster response to ensure sufficient relief supplies. The emergency warehouse location decision is a complex problem, where a wide variety of criteria need to be considered and the preference information of decision makers (DMs) may be imprecise or even absent. In this paper, we identify key effectiveness-oriented criteria used to evaluate the alternative emergency warehouse locations and make an attempt to propose a new multicriteria ranking method to solve the problem of inaccurate or uncertain weight information based on stochastic pairwise dominant relations and the pruning procedure of ELECTRE-II method. The proposed method extends the conventional ELECTRE-II method by incorporating inaccurate information and broadens its application to emergency warehouse location field. The feasibility and applicability of the proposed method are illustrated with a simulated example.

Geo-Information Support in Management of Urban Disasters

2006 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-69
Author(s):  
Sisi Zlatanova ◽  
Peter van Oosterom ◽  
Edward Verbree
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Management ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Recovery Phase ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Information Support ◽  
Technical Equipment ◽  
Fire Departments ◽  
Urban Disaster ◽  
Disaster Situation ◽  
Actual Response

Within the management of urban disasters, geo-information systems (GIS) are used in any of the phases of mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery as most of the required data have a spatial component. Examples of GIS-based decision support systems on mitigation are found in simulation models of floods and earthquakes. In the preparation phase all kinds of spatial observations and models can be used to predict which areas will be threatened. To prepare for adequately responding in case of an actual disaster, these systems are capable of developing realistic scenarios that are used within training and virtual reality (VR) systems. During the actual response phase geo-information is used intensively: for getting an impression of the environment, for routing, for obtaining up-to-date information about the actual situation, etc. In the recovery phase, there is often a high public and political interest to judge the situation - comparing the pre- and post-disaster situation - and to set priorities for the rebuilding. Despite this potential of GIS-based support for urban disaster management, the use of these systems or even the utilisation of geo-information itself is still very limited in countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The emergency management is usually done with paper maps that are seldom up-to-date. Useful systems to support decision makers in any of the phases of disaster management are nearly completely lacking. To improve the work of decision makers and rescue teams, different premises have to be archived in relation to: meta-information to provide insight on the availability and usefulness of the geo-information itself, the technical equipment of the rescue teams (i.e. communication devices and field computers), and the up-to-date information from the affected areas (images, observations, reports). This paper suggests a framework for “urban and urgent” disaster management to facilitate the work of police forces, fire departments, ambulances and government coordinators in disaster situations by extending and improving the utilisation of geo-information. Within a pre-disaster situation, geo-information support management further can assist planning for prevention and mitigation.

Averting Diversity: A Review of Nominations and Appointments to the Philippine Supreme Court (1988-2008)

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dante B. Gatmaytan ◽  
Cielo Magno
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Study ◽  
Supreme Court ◽  
Geographical Origin ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Legal Issues ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Professional Experience ◽  
Academic Background ◽  
The Supreme Court

AbstractThis paper is an empirical study on the nominations and appointments of Supreme Court Justices during a twenty-year period from 1988, when the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) was created in the 1987 Philippine Constitution, to 2008. The study examines the profile of individuals nominated by the JBC including their gender, age, geographical origin, academic background, and professional experience. It also explores whether the appointing Presidents display any preferences based on personal characteristics relating the effects of these preferences to the diversity on the Supreme Court. The study indicates that nominees and appointees all hail from the same background. As a result, membership of the Supreme Court is sorely unrepresentative of Philippine society. This study sets the stage for future research that will determine how this lack of diversity on the Supreme Court can affect the resolution of legal issues.

Fuzzy multi-attribute group decision making to identify the order of establishing temporary logistics hubs during disaster response

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajali Maharjan ◽  
Shinya Hanaoka
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Group Decision Making ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Group Decision ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Numerical Illustration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Post Disaster

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to reveal the importance of the order of establishment of temporary logistics hubs (TLHs) when resources (mobile storage units used as TLHs) are limited and to present the development and implementation of a methodology that determines the order of establishment of TLHs to support post-disaster decision making. Design/methodology/approach It employed a decision support system that considers multiple decision makers and subjective attributes, while also addressing the impreciseness inherent in post-disaster decision making for ordering the establishment of TLHs. To do so, an optimization model was combined with a fuzzy multi-attribute group decision making approach. A numerical illustration was performed using data from the April 2015 Nepal Earthquake. Findings The results showed the location and order of establishment of TLHs, and demonstrated the impact of decision makers’ opinions on the overall ordering. Research limitations/implications The study does not discuss the uncertain nature of the location problem and the potential need for relocation of TLHs. Practical implications This methodology offers managerial insights for post-disaster decision making when resources are limited and their effective utilization is vital. The results highlight the importance of considering the opinions of multiple actors/decision makers to enable coordination and avoid complication between the growing numbers of humanitarian responders during disaster response. Originality/value This study introduces the concept of the order of establishment of TLHs and demonstrates its importance when resources are limited. It develops and implements a methodology determining the order of establishment of TLHs to support post-disaster decision making.

scholarly journals Reconstruction post disaster responsive gender in West Sumatra

2021 ◽  
Vol 331 ◽  
pp. 04009
Author(s):  
Mediana desfita ◽  
Djendrius
Keyword(s):  
Natural Disaster ◽  
Disaster Management ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
The West ◽  
Loss Of Life ◽  
West Sumatra ◽  
Culture Of Prevention ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Post Disaster

Indonesia is one of the very prone countries to disaster. The tsunami and earthquake disasters caused enormous damage to property and infrastructure as well as loss of life. An earthquake on September 30, 2009, measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale struck the west coast of Sumatra, causing loss of life and damage to infrastructure. There were around 1,115 people killed, 1,214 seriously injured and 1,688 people lightly injured. A comprehensive study of natural disaster management activities or systems should be used as learning materials to form a disaster management system. Disaster preparedness by minimizing vulnerability has been identified as a better approach to dealing with disasters than post-disaster response. Creating a culture of prevention is critical to dealing with everyday hazards and the consequences of disasters. The study is using data from a natural disaster in west Sumatra, and data from people who were involved in the process of reconstruction post disasters in west Sumatra. This study aims to obtain an accurate description of the reconstruction post-disaster and relation with responsive gender activities in West Sumatra, and identify how the gender effect on reconstruction post-disaster in the West Sumatra region.

scholarly journals Disaster Management in Wetland Settlement at Ogan Komering ILIR Regency, South Sumatera

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2S9) ◽  
pp. 44-50
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Management ◽  
Emergency Response ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Tropical Region ◽  
Specific Procedure ◽  
Key Informant ◽  
Dry Seasons ◽  
Collaborative Efforts

Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI) Regency is part of the South Sumatra Province whose area is prone to flooding and fire. As for the tropical region, OKI also has two extreme seasons between the rainy and dry seasons. In the dry season is a prone period of forest and land fires, while in the raining season, its prone to flooding. This study aimed to conduct Disaster Management in Wetland Settlements at Ogan Komering Ilir Regency. The method was using qualitative study design with six informant that consist of six local community and two key informant from worker of Badan Penanggulangan Bencana Daerah and Dinas Kesehatan OKI. The result showed that disaster management was classified into four phase. First, the phase of prevention and mitigation that analyzed socialization efforts conducted in OKI were distribution of leaflets and posters. Then, phase of disaster preparedness showed preparedness program in OKI has not been implemented optimally. In disaster emergency response phase discovered no specific procedure in disaster management. Moreover, the phase of disaster recovery indicated that collaborative efforts with multi-sector stakeholders have been conducted. It can be concluded to prepare Disaster Response Village Programs in Ogan Komering Ilir.

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