CQ University researchers from the Centre’s Enhancing decision-making in emergency management project are seeking Australian emergency management practitioners to participate in the first phase of their research study.
Led by A/Prof Chris Bearman and Dr Peter Hayes (CQU), the study seeks operational staff and volunteers working at all levels of emergency management and land management organisations to provide input on current practices in operational decision-making. This research will aid in the understanding of how people currently make decisions, the tools they use, and the gaps in training and organisational doctrine on decision making.
The study is split into two parts; Part 1 is an anonymous online survey to provide a snapshot of current decision-making practice in emergency management. Part 2 is an in-depth interview to further understanding of key issues such as:
- how practitioners learn and develop their operational emergency management decision-making skills
- possible gaps in decision-making training
- use of decision-making tools and frameworks
- challenges and opportunities to improve operational decision-making
- alignment of organisational guidance to operational decision-making practice
- and the degree to which pressures (such as stress and fatigue) may undermine operational decision-making.
This research project aims to develop a set of prototype training and learning products that supports the needs of decision-makers working in a variety of operational environments. In addition, a skills acquisition framework will be produced to assist organisations, teams, and individuals to better understand operational decision-making. These products will be based on an analysis of the current practice and future requirements of emergency management operational decision-making.
The online survey and interview will remain open until the end of March 2024.
The Centre encourages Australian emergency management practitioners to participate in this study. The top-right corner provides further information on this study and access to the online survey.
If you have any further questions about the study, please contact Dr Peter Hayes, p.hayes@cqu.edu.au.