ARTICLEs

DISASTER PLANNING ON THE CHEAP IS NOT JUST COSTLY, IT'S A
COMPLETE DISASTER
Dr. Ian I. Mitroff argues that crisis planning cannot be neglected or done cheaply. Without proper training, human-caused crises such as mismanagement and ineffective use of resources will aggravate the naturally occurring events like earthquakes and hurricanes. Mitroff is the President of Comprehensive Crisis Management.

FEELING IS BELIEVING
Crisis Simulations International founder Mark Chussil highlights the importance of crisis simulations in effective leadership training. By engaging in mock crisis events, leaders experience the urgency of making key decisions and are able to understand the pressing need for change.

CRITICAL COMMAND: IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER
Properly designed and guided scenarios refine leader’s abilities under fire and allow them to incorporate new behaviors. Only then, Portland Fire & Rescue veteran Grant M. Coffey explains, are they able break the cycle of ingrained and often subconscious habits.

CARPE DEIM
US Army veteran and Crisis Simulations International founder Adrian Cruz believes that affective leaders must be trained so they appear to be in control during times of crisis.

INTEROPERABILITY, INFRASTRUCTURE AND DECISION-MAKING
Research engineer Freeland Abbott believes that human training, creative thinking, well-developed procedures, and communication must underscore technical organizational interoperability. Leaders must work efficiently, even with unexpected partners, or without expected infrastructure.

LEADERSHIP AFTER A DISASTER: WHY WE STILL DON'T HAVE IT
R. Jerry Adams, Ph.D., states that order to respond effectively to a disaster, every level of government must agree on basic command and control responsibilities. The author works at the Evaluation and Development Institute.

RESPONDING TO CRISES
Ronald L. Tammen, Ph.D., contends that training for civilian decision makers, both public and private, must be as realistic and demanding as possible. Tammen argues that exposure to real time gaming and simulation techniques must be used to develop skills that leaders may one day utilizedin a crisis situation.

STAKEHOLDER CRITICAL MASS: HARNESSING THE TALENTS OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR VIA THE NATIONAL RESPONSE PLAN
Thomas P. Marian focuses on a New Orleans success story where an organization effectively called upon the skill sets and established leadership abilities of people in both the public and private sectors.

Read Issue #2; December 2006

Read Issue #3; February 2006

Read Issue #4; April 2006