Title: Developing a research framework for complex multi-team coordination in emergency management

Authors: Christine Owen; Christopher Bearman; Benjamin Brooks; Janine Chapman; Douglas Paton; Liaquat Hossain

Addresses: Faculty of Education, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay Campus, Private Bag 66, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia ' CFSR, University of South Australia, City East Campus, Adelaide, Australia; Appleton Institute, Central Queensland University, 44 Greenhill Road, Adelaide, SA, Australia ' National Centre for Ports and Shipping, Australian Maritime College, Locked Bag 1397, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia ' Centre for Work + Life, University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide SA, Australia ' School of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Newnham Campus, Locked Bag 1342, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia ' Faculty of Engineering and IT, The University of Sydney, J05 - Civil Engineering, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Abstract: This conceptual paper addresses previous calls for the development of new theoretical frameworks to better account for the multi-agency emergency management coordination required in complex events. It uses, as a departure point, a teamwork model that includes four phases: situation assessment; plan formulation, plan execution and team learning. The thesis put forward here is that we need to move the focus of analysis beyond the team to one of multi-layered multiple team and multiple organisation systems. To further develop this research framework indicators from multi-organisational literature are added to those found in the individual and teamwork literature to develop a more comprehensive account of multi-team multi-organisational coordination. The paper identifies key anchor points for future use in data collection.

Keywords: teamwork; multi-team coordination; multi-agency coordination; inter-organisational coordination; emergency management; command and control; shared mental models; distributed situation awareness; plan formulation; plan execution; team learning; multiple teams.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEM.2013.054098

International Journal of Emergency Management, 2013 Vol.9 No.1, pp.1 - 17

Received: 28 Oct 2011
Accepted: 07 Nov 2012
Published online: 22 May 2013 *

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