Published works

This project explores aspects of teamwork, decision making and organisational learning with the aim of better supporting people working in complex strategic operations centres.  We have adopted a human-centred design method to produce practical tools that are designed around how people use these tools in their workplace.  As part of this process end-users are embedded into the research process. Bringing end-users into the research process creates a partnership where the researchers contribute their knowledge of literature, theory and the research process and the end-users contribute their requirements, operational knowledge and understanding of the barriers to utilisation and adoption.  Using the human-centred design method we have created a number of practical tools that are at various stages of development.  These tools focus on managing teams, how to make better decisions, and how to better utilise the products of research.  For the tools that have reached (or are close to reaching) the end of their evaluation we have also developed training to support their use by end-users.  We have seen extensive operational use by end-users of the tools we have developed, with a number of agencies amending their standard operating procedures to facilitate use of the tools.  In addition, research from the project has formed the basis of several key publications (e.g. the Resilience Expert Advisory Group’s “A practical guide for crisis decision making.”). Into the future we will be continuing to develop new tools to support teamwork, decision making and organisational learning and expect to see further utilisation by agencies both in Australia and worldwide.