Researchers shared how emergency management decision making can be trained in the August Hazardous Webinar.
The expert panel comprised A/Prof Chris Bearman, Dr Peter Hayes (Central Queensland University and Natural Hazards Research Australia) and Sandra Lunardi (AFAC) highlighted their research findings’ key themes around intuitive and analytical decision-making processes; the strengths and limitations of cognitive aids to support decision making; and how decision making in emergency management can be a learned skill.
Decision making is a crucial skill for emergency managers at all levels of emergency management and disaster recovery. Emergency managers make time-critical decisions in environments that are dynamic, uncertain, complex and stressful with high stakes.
The Enhancing decision making in emergency management project’s prototype training and learning products supporting decision makers, with Peter highlighting the need for well-designed cognitive aids. These aids assist decision-makers under stress and enhance their operational effectiveness. Peter also spoke on the ethical implications decision makers and emergency managers face, saying that establishing clear ethical processes and frameworks can help guide better decision making in chaotic and stressful environments.
Chris shared the results of the project’s quantitative investigation into current decision-making practices and training, highlighting that nearly half the emergency management personnel participants felt that the approach to operational decision-making taught during any training was sometimes ineffective.
Effective decision making also requires a balance between intuitive and analytical approaches; understanding when to apply each can improve outcomes significantly.
So far, these preliminary research findings demonstrate a clear opportunity to enhance emergency management decision-making training. The insights gained from the research can also be applied across various sectors, enhancing decision-making capabilities in diverse fields.
Find out more about the project and stay up to date here.