This research explored the complexities of strategic decision making during the deployment of the Australian Urban Search and Rescue team to Fukushima, Japan, in 2011. Photo: Fire and Rescue NSW
Decision making is a skill required for every type of incident and every level of emergency management. In this environment, decision makers face situations that are often dynamic, complex and uncertain. This presents challenging physiological contexts that can contribute to poor decisions, resulting in potentially catastrophic outcomes for affected communities.
This project comprises three studies that examine different elements of strategic decision making: 1) analysis of decisions made during a series of exercises, 2) analysis of decisions made during an international deployment for a disaster and 3) a training course on strategic decision making.
Hazard Note 73identifies a consistent set of decision themes that can change the quality of strategic decision making in emergency management, and provides a set of easy-to-use cognitive decision tools and training aides to help improve decisions in emergencies.