Crisis Management Competencies The case of emergency managers in the USA

    Authors

    M. Van Wart;N. Kapucu

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Public Manag. Rev.

    Keywords

    Catastrophic disasters; crisis leadership; extreme events; leadership; competencies; leadership performance; routine emergencies; LEADERSHIP; KATRINA; DISASTERS; NETWORKS; Management; Public Administration

    Abstract

    This article seeks to clarify what competencies are needed in the response phase of true crises, and to make important distinctions among related but distinct concepts which are often blurred. That is, to what extent is crisis management, in which there is some degree of systems failure, related to emergency management, change management, and transformational leadership? How are these distinctions illustrated at a competency level? The findings indicate that senior emergency managers in administrative leadership positions do not abandon emergency management practices, but rather adapt them selectively. Change management is important, but it must be targeted and time sensitive. Crises are no time to reorganize adequately operating response systems, much less try to implement wholesale organizational changes. Finally, while some of the commonly associated features of transformational leadership do apply, such as self-confidence and decisiveness, others are conspicuously deemphasized, such as the need for achievement. Fifteen competencies were identified from a field of thirty-seven as the key characteristics or behaviors of effective leaders during crises. This research reinforces our understanding that different circumstances call for different competencies. Identifying specific contexts by environmental demands or industry peculiarities, and then studying the differences will advance the normal science of leadership immensely.

    Journal Title

    Public Management Review

    Volume

    13

    Issue/Number

    4

    Publication Date

    1-1-2011

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    489

    Last Page

    511

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000290671300001

    ISSN

    1471-9037

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