Title: A case study of information and communication technology in emergency management training

Authors: Rogier Woltjer, Ida Lindgren, Kip Smith

Addresses: Cognitive Systems Engineering Laboratory, Department of Computer and Information Science, Linkopings Universitet, SE-581 83 Linkoping, Sweden. ' Division of Industrial Ergonomics, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Linkopings Universitet, SE-581 83 Linkoping, Sweden. ' Division of Industrial Ergonomics, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Linkopings Universitet, SE-581 83 Linkoping, Sweden

Abstract: This paper addresses the roles of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in training for effective emergency management and inter-organisational coordination. Collocation can encourage the development of common ground and trust and, in turn, result in greater efficiency and effectiveness. We expect to find communication and artefact use during collocated training that cannot readily transfer to the ICT used to link distributed work settings. This expectation makes the reliance on ICT and distributed work during emergency management operations suspect. To test these claims, we observed a large-scale, real-time exercise designed to facilitate cooperation among electricity and telecommunications companies. The exercise scenario was similar to the January 2005 windstorm that left much of southern Sweden without electricity or telephone service and revealed the need for better cooperation among utility providers. The observations suggest that while collocation is clearly beneficial, a mismatch in ICT use between collocated training and distributed emergency management operations is likely to be detrimental for preparedness.

Keywords: emergency management; training; artefact use; collocated work; distributed work; real-time exercise; inter-organisational coordination; cooperation; information technology; communications; ICT; Sweden; electricity companies; telecommunications companies.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEM.2006.011300

International Journal of Emergency Management, 2006 Vol.3 No.4, pp.332 - 347

Published online: 14 Nov 2006 *

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