Title: The influence of organisational changes on cost efficiency in fire and rescue services

Authors: Johan Holmgren; Åsa Weinholt

Addresses: Faculty of Logistics, Molde University College – Specialised University in Logistics, Molde, 6410, Norway ' Division of Communications and Transport Systems, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, Norrköping, 60174, Sweden

Abstract: Fire and rescue services (FRS) in Sweden have recently undergone organisational changes aiming at improving service quality and efficiency. Among those changes are an increased number of formalised cooperations between FRSs, increased collaboration with other sectors, changes in the structure of rescue teams, and an increase in the tasks performed by the services. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether these policy changes have resulted in increased cost efficiency in the Swedish FRS. We used stochastic frontier analysis of annual data from Swedish municipalities, taking into account contextual differences. No evidence of improved efficiency in the FRS could be found. The policy changes implemented have not had the desired effects, and most of the policy variables tested for inclusion in the model were not significant. The results also show great variation in efficiency between FRSs which could be used for benchmarking and basis for further analysis.

Keywords: FRSs; fire and rescue services; SFA; stochastic frontier analysis; efficiency evaluation; benchmarking; production; organisational change; cost efficiency; service quality; Sweden; formalised cooperation; increased collaboration; organisational structure; rescue teams; tasks increases; change management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEM.2016.079848

International Journal of Emergency Management, 2016 Vol.12 No.4, pp.343 - 365

Received: 30 Nov 2015
Accepted: 10 Feb 2016
Published online: 18 Oct 2016 *

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