Starr Roxanne Hiltz, Jose J. Gonzalez, & Murray Turoff. (2013). ICT support and the effectiveness of decision making in disasters: A preliminary system dynamics model. In J. Geldermann and T. Müller S. Fortier F. F. T. Comes (Ed.), ISCRAM 2013 Conference Proceedings – 10th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 668–673). KIT; Baden-Baden: Karlsruher Institut fur Technologie.
Abstract: A high level conceptual model is presented of factors hypothesized to be key determinants of the effectiveness of decision making in large scale disasters, grounded in the literature on disaster management. ICT robustness (including the use of social media) sensemaking, and the effectiveness of decision making processes by the multi-organizational Partially Distributed Teams that must cooperate are accorded key roles in the process model. The outcomes of the decision making processes modeled are decisions, in terms of timeliness and quality.
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Starr Roxanne Hiltz, Linda Plotnick, & Rosalie J. Ocker. (2011). Learning about Emergency Management Information Systems through Partially Distributed Team projects. In E. Portela L. S. M.A. Santos (Ed.), 8th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management: From Early-Warning Systems to Preparedness and Training, ISCRAM 2011. Lisbon: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: What are effective ways to train students for designing Emergency Management Information Systems and for working with distant partners on EMIS projects? This paper describes the results of a project whose goal is to assess the effectiveness of Partially Distributed Teams (PDTs) as a pedagogical strategy. A PDT is one type of distributed team, in which two or more co-located subgroups use information and communication technology to collaborate on a task. Much of emergency management involves cross-organizational and often cross-national collaboration in this form. Students need, but lack, learning experiences focused on how to work effectively in such situations. This field study involved more than 700 students from universities in eight countries, working in 80 teams on an EMIS software requirements task. Results indicate that students report positive learning experiences, with international students in international teams reporting the most positive experiences. There are also significant differences among universities.
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Linda Plotnick, Starr Roxanne Hiltz, Rosalie Ocker, & Mary Beth Rosson. (2008). Leadership in partially distributed emergency response software development teams. In B. V. de W. F. Fiedrich (Ed.), Proceedings of ISCRAM 2008 – 5th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (pp. 150–158). Washington, DC: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: Emergency response and preparedness teams that are inter-organizational or international often work together in partially distributed teams (PDTs). A PDT has at least one collocated subteam and at least two subteams that are geographically distributed. Leadership configuration and behaviors present unique challenges in PDTs. This paper describes preliminary results of an initial field experiment with international student teams undertaken to examine leadership in PDTs working on high-level requirements for an emergency preparedness information system. Leadership is viewed through the lens of what leader behaviors, or roles, are enacted by the leaders. Leadership configuration was varied: some teams had just an overall team leader; others had no team leader but had a leader for each subteam, while others had both team and subteam leaders. The findings suggest that leadership configuration matters and that leaders do enact roles similar to those found in studies of fully distributed or traditional collocated teams.
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Daniel Sanz, Patricia Gómez Bello, Paloma Díaz, Fausto J. Sainz, & Ignacio Aedo. (2007). Supporting physical and logical communication in emergency management Virtual Distributed Teams. In K. Nieuwenhuis P. B. B. Van de Walle (Ed.), Intelligent Human Computer Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM 2007 Academic Proceedings Papers (pp. 439–448). Delft: Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM.
Abstract: Virtual Distributed Teams (VDT) need to face physical and logical communication challenges during emergency response. Physical problems include heterogeneous technology infrastructures, ubiquitous accessibility, alternative media communication or real-time interaction. Logical problems are related to the accomplishment of a coordinated activity, such as the need for a common place accessible by all where digital artefacts are available, spontaneous communication, real-time interaction, and emergency awareness. We present an integration framework that addresses the physical and logical communication requirements in emergency management for VDTs. The framework provides a ubiquitous mobile infrastructure that supports physical communication, proposes a generic role-based organizational structure for VDT, and outlines an integration strategy that allows to define logical communication channels by means of information flow and access control policies based on the VDT structure.
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