| Records |
| Author |
Jyoti Laxmi Mishra; David K. Allen; Alan D. Pearman |
| Title |
Activity Theory as a methodological and analytical framework for information practices in Emergency Management |
Type |
Conference Article |
| Year |
2011 |
Publication |
8th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management: From Early-Warning Systems to Preparedness and Training, ISCRAM 2011 |
Abbreviated Journal |
ISCRAM 2011 |
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
|
| Keywords |
Activity coefficients; Civil defense; Disasters; Information systems; Risk management; Activity Theory; Analytical methodology; Crisis management; Emergency management; Emergency responders; Emergency situation; Information practices; Qualitative research; Emergency services |
| Abstract |
Emergency situations are chaotic in nature. It is however, necessary to understand the context in which Emergency Responders work such that information practice issues can be highlighted and addressed by the system designers. In this paper, Activity Theory is proposed as a methodological and analytical framework to study information practices in the context of Emergency Management. Activity Theory aids in achieving a holistic approach to understanding the work activities context unlike some other analytical methodologies, as it focuses on use of artifacts for the interaction of humans with their environment. In this paper, an activity system model is used to investigate information practice issues of response phase of the emergency services in the UK. Using Activity Theory as an analytical framework, several tensions and contradictions emerged which keep the system unstable but which are also a source of innovation. It is also argued that Activity Theory can usefully be applied to the analysis of information practices over short period of time. |
| Address |
University of Leeds, United Kingdom |
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM |
Place of Publication |
Lisbon |
Editor |
M.A. Santos, L. Sousa, E. Portela |
| Language |
English |
Summary Language |
English |
Original Title |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
2411-3387 |
ISBN |
9789724922478 |
Medium |
|
| Track |
Advanced Research Methods and Unconventional Results |
Expedition |
|
Conference |
8th International ISCRAM Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management |
| Notes |
|
Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
|
Serial |
773 |
| Share this record to Facebook |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Jeannette N. Sutton; Leysia Palen; Irina Shklovski |
| Title |
Backchannels on the front lines: Emergent uses of social media in the 2007 Southern California Wildfires |
Type |
Conference Article |
| Year |
2008 |
Publication |
Proceedings of ISCRAM 2008 – 5th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management |
Abbreviated Journal |
ISCRAM 2008 |
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
624-631 |
| Keywords |
Disasters; Information science; Information systems; Communications activities; Crisis informatics; Information and Communication Technologies; Information practices; Information resource; Information shared; Southern California; Wildfire; Fires |
| Abstract |
Opportunities for participation by members of the public are expanding the information arena of disaster. Social media supports “backchannel” communications, allowing for wide-scale interaction that can be collectively resourceful, self-policing, and generative of information that is otherwise hard to obtain. Results from our study of information practices by members of the public during the October 2007 Southern California Wildfires suggest that community information resources and other backchannel communications activity enabled by social media are gaining prominence in the disaster arena, despite concern by officials about the legitimacy of information shared through such means. We argue that these emergent uses of social media are pre-cursors of broader future changes to the institutional and organizational arrangements of disaster response. |
| Address |
University of Colorado, Boulder, United States; University of California, Irvine, United States |
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM |
Place of Publication |
Washington, DC |
Editor |
F. Fiedrich, B. Van de Walle |
| Language |
English |
Summary Language |
English |
Original Title |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
2411-3387 |
ISBN |
9780615206974 |
Medium |
|
| Track |
HCI for Emergencies |
Expedition |
|
Conference |
5th International ISCRAM Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management |
| Notes |
|
Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
|
Serial |
985 |
| Share this record to Facebook |
