TEMP0735XX Course in Disaster Management and Coordination

Volume 2013/2014
Education
Master of Disaster Management - compulsory
Content

Disaster response managers need to continuously analyse and adapt to ever changing situations in environments where people are in distress, there is a constant lack of time and information and where available resources are related to different formal organizations. Harnessing such complexity is one of the cornerstones of a successful disaster operation.

Traditionally, disaster response management has to large extent been influenced by a traditional command and control perspective which has emphasized the role of a central authority and clear command structures. However, in recent years alternative perspectives on management in complex situations have emerged. Such perspectives acknowledge the importance of informal networks, trust and argues that in fact disaster operations seldom work according to defined roles and responsibilities or standard operating procedures.

Disaster Management and Coordination explores the multi-organizational management context from both an academic/theoretical and a practical perspective. Moreover, the course deals with important aspects of decision-making, group dynamics and leadership. The course aims to improve the students' ability to analyze different aspects of disaster response management and how to cope with several of the challenges associated with response operations. Disaster Management and Coordination is based on three interrelated themes:

  • The disaster response system: During the course theoretical and practical approaches to the complexity in disaster response operations will be discussed. Among other things ideas based on complex adaptive systems will be introduced. Practical experiences from the international field will be provided. Other topics included in this theme are the important issues of trust media and security management.

  • Decision making: This theme focuses on cognitive aspects of disaster response management. How can we understand decision-making processes? What is situational awareness? Is a common operational picture necessary?

  • Leadership: The importance of the leader in disaster response is broadly recognised, but what is leadership and what is special about being a leader in a disaster situation? Which are the different approaches that a leader may apply in order to ensure the successful outcome of an operation?

Learning Outcome

At the end of the course students should be able to:

  • identify and discuss key components of and approaches to disaster management using a comprehensive theoretical framework
  • explain and discuss practices in disaster response in relation to theories of leadership, decision-making, and disaster management systems
  • critically reflect upon the inter-relationship between disaster response management and the context (social, political, economic, environmental and demographic) in which the disaster response takes place
  • critically analyze the inter-dependencies among humanitarian actors/stakeholders in disaster situations and relate them to effective coordination of disaster response
  • design, prioritize needs, and implement- in an interdisciplinary team environment, a disaster response plan
The course explores the multi-organizational management context from both academic/theoretical and practical perspectives.
The course is based on interdisciplinary teaching and problem-oriented learning and seeks to draw on students' own experiences as a resource. Teaching and study methods include lectures, group work, plenary discussions, case studies, and exercises/simulation exercises.
Course in Disaster Management and Coordination is evaluated in Exam in Disaster Management and Coordination.

The student's total workload is stated in Exam in Disaster Management and Coordination.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 0
  • Total
  • 0
Credit
0 ECTS
Type of assessment
Course participation
Course attestation is made on the basis of approved participation in classes
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
One internal examiner
Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve course attestation, the student shall be able to:

  • identify and discuss key components of and approaches to disaster management using a comprehensive theoretical framework
  • explain and discuss practices in disaster response in relation to theories of leadership, decision-making, and disaster management systems
  • critically reflect upon the inter-relationship between disaster response management and the context (social, political, economic, environmental and demographic) in which the disaster response takes place
  • critically analyze the inter-dependencies among humanitarian actors/stakeholders in disaster situations and relate them to effective coordination of disaster response
  • design, prioritize needs, and implement- in an interdisciplinary team environment, a disaster response plan