Title: Collaborative technology: providing agility in response to extreme events

Authors: Theresa I. Jefferson, John R. Harrald

Addresses: Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering, The Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management, The George Washington University, 1776 G. Street, NW, Washington DC 20052, USA. ' Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering, The Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management, The George Washington University, 1776 G. Street, NW, Washington DC 20052, USA

Abstract: The past two years have shown both the power of nature and the complexity of preparing for and responding to extreme events. Response efforts have demonstrated serious management, coordination, and problem solving issues. This paper provides an overview of the US Federal Government|s current approach to emergency management. It discusses some of the pitfalls with this approach and proposes using collaborative technology to assist in providing agility in response to extreme events. It concludes with the outline of a research project that will provide the opportunity to evaluate the use of collaborative technologies in disaster response and mitigation.

Keywords: emergency response; disaster management; collaborative technologies; decision making; information technology; ICT; electronic governance; USA; United States; emergency management; agile response; agility; extreme events; Hurricane Katrina; collaboration; e-governance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEG.2007.014344

International Journal of Electronic Governance, 2007 Vol.1 No.1, pp.79 - 93

Published online: 02 Jul 2007 *

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