Improving decision making during incidents

How can incident management teams function to the best of their ability in challenging and high stakes environments? Research by the Practical decision tools for improved decision-making project is developing practical techniques and strategies to help emergency managers to function in complex situations. These are being trialled by the South Australian Country Fire Service, Tasmania Fire Service and NSW State Emergency Service.

Emergency services have been engaged throughout, with information sought from 18 separate agencies ranging from state emergency services, urban fire, rural fire and local councils. This has allowed the research team, led by Dr Chris Bearman at CQUniversity, to gain a greater understanding of the issues around decision making and team monitoring. Agencies have allowed the research team to monitor both real and simulated emergency situations from within incident management centres, as well as providing feedback throughout the prototype stage, leading to better results.

Heather Stuart, Manager, Knowledge and Lessons at the NSW State Emergency Service believes this feedback is critical.

“The project is providing practical techniques and strategies to help people to function in complex emergency management environments now and into the future,” she says.

“The interest in trialling the techniques developed by the research has shown the value of this project to the sector.”