Understanding how groups make strategic decisions in emergencies

Wilkinson, Byron 2020. Understanding how groups make strategic decisions in emergencies. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

This thesis investigates how emergency response groups, specifically Strategic Coordinating Groups, make decisions in time-pressured, high-stakes environments. By analysing video footage of simulated emergency exercises, the approach taken combines the reproducibility of traditional decision-making studies with the realism advocated by the paradigm of Naturalistic Decision Making. The investigation of decision-making at a range of national and international exercises revealed systematic departures from the UK doctrine on making group decisions: The Joint Decision Model. Group decision-making did not follow the sequence of activities assumed by the Joint Decision Model or other normative models of decision-making. There were marked between-group differences in the process of decision-making: some groups can be characterised as information seeking (or explorers), others as action orientated (or exploiters). When making decisions, all groups rarely considered alternative courses of action or options. This thesis provides recommendations on the policy and practice of how Strategic Coordinating Groups train and exercise and make decisions in emergencies. These include a national programme of training for the Chairs of Strategic Coordination Groups, use of controls and tools to support decision-making, and use of external challenge and assessment in strategic decision-making.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	9 December 2020
Date of Acceptance:	9 December 2020
Last Modified:	25 Feb 2021 02:19
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/136909

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