Planning to improvise: the importance of creativity and flexibility in crisis response
by Gary R. Webb, Francois-Regis Chevreau
International Journal of Emergency Management (IJEM), Vol. 3, No. 1, 2006

Abstract: For decades social science research on disasters has documented the importance of organisational emergence and individual role improvising to effective emergency responses. Yet those responsible for planning for crises continue to embrace approaches that emphasise centralised command and control and that discourage creativity. In this paper we describe the nature of improvisation, identify characteristics of organisations that impede flexibility in responding to crises, and discuss the implications of social science research on disasters for crisis planning and emergency management. We conclude that crisis planners should encourage – not constrain – creativity in their planning efforts.

Online publication date: Wed, 12-Jul-2006

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Emergency Management (IJEM):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com