Erik Borglund, Martina Granholm, & Ulf Andersson. (2021). Virtual Emergency Operation Centre: How to manage a crisis from an EOC when you need to work from home. In Anouck Adrot, Rob Grace, Kathleen Moore, & Christopher W. Zobel (Eds.), ISCRAM 2021 Conference Proceedings – 18th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 238–245). Blacksburg, VA (USA): Virginia Tech.
Abstract: What happens when an organization requires its employees to work from home during a pandemic that needs to be managed? This research in progress article focuses on TELCOALPHA and their transition of the emergency operation centre (EOC) to be digital and distributed. A qualitative research method approach was applied and liminality has been used as lens to investigate the passage from analog to digital. Focus has been on understanding the transition and how they handled ambiguity within the organization when their crisis management moved online. The transition was successful, and two areas were identified as important to this success: 1. TELCOALPHA used IT that the staff in the crisis organization already had experience of working with prior to the Covid-19 pandemic; 2. TELCO_ALPHA ran crisis management team meetings as they would run regular business meetings. There was no new “crisis management structure” at the meetings.
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Stella Polikarpus, Tobias Ley, & Katrin Poom-Valickis. (2021). Collaborative Authoring of Virtual Simulation Scenarios for Assessing Situational Awareness. In Anouck Adrot, Rob Grace, Kathleen Moore, & Christopher W. Zobel (Eds.), ISCRAM 2021 Conference Proceedings – 18th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 229–237). Blacksburg, VA (USA): Virginia Tech.
Abstract: Situational awareness (SA), the ability to perceive, comprehend and predict situation around you and it is a key in attending any incident as critical foundation for successful decision-making. Because incidents are solitary events, development and assessment of SA presents a significant challenge. In this article we analyze the authoring process of twenty-two scenarios implemented in the XVR on-scene virtual simulation software used to assess rescue incident commanders' (ICs) SA. To allow the scenarios to be used by different assessors, the Collaborative Authoring Process Model for Virtual Simulation Scenarios (CAPM) was developed. In Estonia, 473 assessments were recorded in Effective Command database and analysed by all three levels of SA as recommended by Endsley (2000). Introduction of CAPM resulted in scenarios being re-used by different assessors for authentic SA measuring. In the last sections of this article, we introduce our suggestions to improve virtual scenario design and SA research.
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Stephan Weijman, & Kenny Meesters. (2020). Shifting Control and Trust: Exploring Implications of Introducing Delegated Decision Support Systems. In Amanda Hughes, Fiona McNeill, & Christopher W. Zobel (Eds.), ISCRAM 2020 Conference Proceedings – 17th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 285–294). Blacksburg, VA (USA): Virginia Tech.
Abstract: Increased information access and more intelligent information systems enable more operators in an organization to autonomously make decisions. These delegated decision-making opportunities play an important role during critical events, as operators -such as emergency teams and responders- can work independently and rely less on a centralized decision-making structure. Moreover, the operators' perceived level of trust increases while also limiting the coordinators' perceived control. In this paper, we examine the influence of such systems on the shift in perceived control and empowerment for both operators and commanders. In our experiments, conducted at the Royal Netherlands Air Force, we found that the introduction of these systems indeed affects perceived control and empowerment, specifically as perceived by the coordinator. These factors will play an important role in the effective use of such systems and their transformative effect on an organization. Especially considering the ongoing technical and organizational developments in crisis information management.
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Kristine Steen-Tveit, Jaziar Radianti, & Bjørn Erik Munkvold. (2020). SMS-based real-time data collection for evaluation of situational awareness and common operational picture: lessons learned from a field exercise. In Amanda Hughes, Fiona McNeill, & Christopher W. Zobel (Eds.), ISCRAM 2020 Conference Proceedings – 17th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 276–284). Blacksburg, VA (USA): Virginia Tech.
Abstract: Managing complex multi-agency emergency operations requires that the key actors have a holistic, correct and dynamic situational awareness (SA) and that the involved actors establish a common operational picture (COP). Establishing SA and COP are key objectives in many multi-agency exercises, however, reported research shows limitations in existing methods and approaches for collecting the data required for evaluating this. By being able to capture near real-time information during different phases of the exercise we will be better positioned to identify what works well and what does not work in the process of establishing SA and COP. Our paper presents an example of real-time data collection using SMS during a multi-agency field exercise. Overall, the results support the idea of this as an effective method for collecting real-time data for analyzing the formation of SA and a COP among actors in emergency management.
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Kristine Steen-Tveit. (2020). Identifying Information Requirements for Improving the Common Operational Picture in Multi-Agency Operations. In Amanda Hughes, Fiona McNeill, & Christopher W. Zobel (Eds.), ISCRAM 2020 Conference Proceedings – 17th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 252–263). Blacksburg, VA (USA): Virginia Tech.
Abstract: While there exists a considerable body of literature on the importance of a common operational picture (COP) in multi-agency emergency operations, the COP concept itself still lacks a univocal definition. Despite the lack of consensus regarding the mechanisms underlying the COP, the literature implies a level of consistency in the focus on sharing critical information. Based on interviews with Norwegian emergency management stakeholders, this study investigates common information requirements for emergency management services and presents an example of a framework for structuring the sharing of critical information and building a COP. Termed 'the window report', this framework is used among emergency stakeholders in Norway and Sweden. The study identified eight common information requirement categories for managing extreme weather scenarios. With a focus on common information needs and a process for structured information sharing, future strategic emergency management planning might take a more holistic perspective on cross-sectoral operations than in current practice.
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