Introduction
The sphere of emergency management has become an area of intense interest for researchers of the 21st century. Indeed, today’s complex environment, instigated by the growing degree of globalization, poses new unprecedented challenges as previously unseen threats emerge worldwide. Historically, humanity has been subject to the damaging effects and fallout of natural disasters, the tremendous potential of which is capable of taking numerous lives. Furthermore, technological progress continued, and artificial construction became more advanced yet complicated, which prompted higher risks of anthropogenic disasters (Carlson, 2017). Global uncertainty and increasing conflicts lead to new threats in terms of worldwide and domestic terrorism, as well. In these circumstances, effective emergency management has become an integral component of homeland security (Canton, 2018). There are many studies of all levels devoted to the issues related to the discussed sphere, and the dissertation prepared by Randall W. Hanifen is one of such works.
The research in question focuses on one of the crucial elements of today’s professional activities across all industries and areas, which interdepartmental cooperation. At the same time, in the sphere of homeland security, proper collaboration is the key to effective disaster management and prevention. The dissertation begins with reference to the event, which has redefined the understanding of homeland security, highlighting the importance of qualified and efficient response in an emergency situation. The attack on the United States, which occurred on September 11, 2001, revealed severe underlying issues, which prevented the response from reaching its ultimate potential in terms of efficiency. This catastrophic event marked a new era in the development of national security policies, promoting interdepartmental collaboration with the purpose of ensuring the safety of all residents (Sedgwick & Hawdon, 2019). Proper sharing of intelligence, assets, and resources is now recognized as the key method of mitigating the impact of emergencies and reducing casualties.
The dissertation under review focuses on the integral role of the fire department for emergency management units. Additional emphasis is laid on the importance of research related both to the future and the past. Indeed, the role of historical studies in emergency management cannot be underestimated due to its vast potential. While some leaders and policy-makers may be reluctant to review, acknowledge, and study their previous mistakes, the in-depth analysis of possible flaws revealed through improper emergency management can provide them with more effective prevention and response strategies moving forward. The lessons of history must be well-learned for the sphere to ensure its continuous development in the right direction. In the discussed dissertation, it is stated that the contemporary methods of emergency management imply collaboration between both governmental and private organizations, which is particularly crucial in urban and metropolitan areas. Today’s society demonstrates a stable increase in terms of urbanization, and, despite evident advantages of city-centered activities, disaster response and prevention remain highly complicated in these densely populated areas with a complex environment.
The role of the fire department in emergency response remains pivotal, but the exact nature of the collaboration requires additional research. Evidently, the majority of disastrous events pose high risks of fire, as many of them are associated with explosions. For example, the society of the 21st century has faced the issue of global and domestic terrorist activities on an unprecedented level. According to Jones et al. (2020), existing data suggests that such in the United States are conditioned by various groups, including white supremacists, anarchists, and religious extremists, whereas the issue is expected to grow worse in 2021 and the following years. This problem has had a severe impact on society, causing both physical and mental damage, aggravating hostility in the world (Obaidi et al., 2018). The author of the dissertation under review rightfully places terrorism among the most significant challenges faced by emergency managers. Fires and explosions are incredibly dangerous in crowded spaces, which are abundant in modern cities. Therefore, the resources and expertise of local fire departments are unquestionably pivotal assets in the context of effective disaster response and prevention.
The concept of emergency management implies several stages of the overall process. Figure 1 demonstrates the interrelated nature of these elements, which are Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery. As the dissertation in question focuses on the role of the fire department in terms of emergency management collaboration, it appears particularly relevant to the response stage of the cycle. At this point, the disastrous situation emerges, and the immediate reaction determines the overall success of the emergency management procedures. In the case of a range of events, fire department units are on the front line of the crisis, forming the core of the response. When a fire begins, especially in crowded spaces, every minute counts, and the efficiency of the emergency management is measured in human lives. Quick, informed, and accurate actions of fire department units can prevent additional casualties and facilitate the general work process of all teams involved. However, fire department specialists can also play a role of paramount importance during the Mitigation and Prevention stages, implementing their research-based expertise when designing infrastructure, as well managing strategies and budgets.
The dissertation by Randall W. Hanifen thoroughly explains all of the aforementioned aspects, providing a substantial foundation for the research. Several catastrophic events are listed in order to illustrate the significance of a coordinated response in such situations. The problem, which is reviewed in the dissertation, is related to the issues of interagency collaboration as the cornerstone of the 21st-century homeland security policies. Simultaneously, a certain literature gap is revealed in terms of the fire department’s role. The research concerns the correlation between emergency management strategies and the existing frameworks implemented by the fire department’s training and operations. The purpose of the dissertation is to research the misalignment, which exists between collaboration theories of the general emergency management and fire departments in the United States. The paper successfully identifies the relevant themes, ensuring that the further study is based on important principles within the framework of the research topic.
Literature Review
Considering the emphasized research gap in relation to the fire departments’ position in the emergency management collaboration framework, the selection of literature for the dissertation was a difficult process. However, the author managed to identify a considerable of relevant works, which met the selection criteria. One the criteria focused on the exploration of cooperation history between the fire units and other departments involved in maintaining homeland security. Indeed, it appears relevant and appropriate to investigate the nature of fire departments’ relations with other agencies across different periods. As stated in the introduction, the particularities of disastrous events have changed significantly, as conditioned by overarching developmental patterns of society. Such events as the attacks of September 11, 2001, had a specifically strong impact on the national security framework. Accordingly, a comparison of the emergency response methodologies prior and post-historic crises provides a better understanding of the evolution of related policies.
In addition, the author of the dissertation laid emphasis on the renowned practices and strategies in the sphere of collaboration management. Similar paradigms are widely implemented across industries in the modern world, and their importance transcends emergency management. Trust, transparency, and cooperation are the basic principles upon which many contemporary organizations, agencies, and firms are now established. Such an approach relies on substantial evidence, and Bond-Barnard et al. (2018) state that proper collaboration has been proved to influence the outcome of a project in a positive manner. In a way, the process of establishing a homeland security framework capable of withstanding the challenges of the time is similar to corporate endeavors. As in the contemporary business environment, the emergency response should rely heavily on the effective utilization of assets, including human resources. However, the stakes are also much higher in the discussed sphere, as success is measured not by financial performance rates and profits but in people’s lives. Therefore, the importance of effective cooperation management techniques is further emphasized, making lessons from relevant literature particularly valuable.
The author of the dissertation under review researches at length the history of independent fire departments and their collaboration patterns. It is mentioned that these units have been important in saving lives and preserving the safety of American residents, but their role in the global security framework has been inconsistent throughout history. However, specific events of unseen magnitude have contributed to the understanding of the pivotal status of fire departments in emergency management. The events, which occurred on September 11, 2001, have led to the wider promotion of interagency collaboration. When this term is mentioned, one is likely to consider law enforcement units and national agencies, such as the FBI or the CIA. Nevertheless, while a considerable portion of prevention work happens behind the scenes, major catastrophic events show the importance of the first response to the general public, as well as to policy-makers. The area of homeland security entails vast responsibilities and complex objectives, which is why all elements of the emergency management chain are to be treated with equal attention.
In the following segments of the literature review, the author of the dissertation expands on the classification of disastrous events. These sections provide the reader with a better understanding of the differences between emergency types and underline the immense impact that they have on the country. Various economic metrics are presented, serving to highlight the magnitude of disasters while outlining the origins of the threats, which may cause them. Fire units are always among the first responders to such events, and the detrimental effects they face justify the deserved nature of increased recognition of their efforts (Yung et al., 2021). In addition, the author further expands the scope of the study by reviewing emerging threats to homeland security.
While a range of potential disasters has been well-established and researched, today’s environment is characterized by its increasing complexity and changeability. Consequently, new risks emerge worldwide, and it is vital to ensure proper forecasting mechanisms and prepare effective response techniques in advance (Choi & Wende, 2020). However, most of the new threats are associated with the rapid development of technology and lie in the sphere of cybersecurity, in which the importance of collaborative efforts is equally pivotal (Narayanan, 2018). While the role of the fire department in mitigating and preventing such risks is uncertain within the framework of the study under review, this area still deserves to be mentioned, as it involves the general concept of interagency collaboration for the sake of national security.
Having expanded the scope of the literature review to encompass all relevant areas of emergency management in the current circumstances, the author makes a successful attempt to provide a concrete framework for the following work. The dissertation relies on the crucial elements of all aspects of examined literature to establish a solid evidence base for the discussion. The researcher provides substantial arguments in favor of the indispensable nature of information and asset sharing in the context of disaster response. Simultaneously, relevant facts are presented from adjacent spheres, in which collaboration management has yielded considerable results. The presence of multiple aspects of homeland security architecture serves to emphasize the role of the fire department as an integral component of the system.
Therefore, the research funnel model implemented by the author of the dissertation is appropriate, as it highlights the scope of the issue while focusing on one of its many aspects, although a more concentrated approach may have proven beneficial. It combined the existing data into a refined research area, namely the correlation between the operational frameworks of fired departments and emergency management agencies. Nevertheless, the vast amount of reviewed concepts may be seen as a weakness, as the reader’s attention becomes dispersed across adjacent spheres in the process. Overall, the distinguished concept is further operationalized by explaining the manner in which potential findings can be incorporated into the current procedures in order to enhance the knowledge and efficiency of emergency management.
Methodology
In order to utilize the findings inferred from secondary resources, an adequate research design is required. The methodology is expected to reflect the nature of the study, serving as an accurate instrument of attaining the objectives, which, in this case, exist in the form of answers to the research question (Wyse et al., 2016). The author of the dissertation under review utilized the format of an embedded multiple-case study, which focused on the areas with the State of Ohio. Emergency management units and fire departments served as the basis for comparing policies, principles, and methodologies in order to discern particular patterns.
According to the author, the sample of the study comprised seventeen cases, which provides a substantial evidence base, contributing to the accuracy of the findings. The sample appears appropriate, as it enables a good understanding of the existing patterns. While the emphasis on the State of Ohio may be seen as a limitation to the scope of the study, this choice allows the researcher to implement a more detailed approach within this quantitative model. The provided interview desing implemented in the embedded case study fully reflects the nature and the purpose of the dissertation, resulting in the adequate coverage of all research questions.
The selection of the research paradigm appears relevant and appropriate due to the practical orientation of the research question. The author did not aim at devising broad, fundamental concepts, as the issue requires a more specialized approach. This methodology allowed the researcher to investigate the existing patterns of interagency collaboration between fire departments and emergency management agencies within a specific area. While the State of Ohio may not be fully representative of the entire United States, its case may serve as the foundation for further, more globalized research. From a personal perspective, a similar choice of sampling would be implemented in order to ensure a better understanding of the underlying issues within the sphere. Such studies conducted locally help specialists understand the current state of emergency management cooperation. Since the sphere itself resembles a puzzle with multiple elements, the methodology fully reflects its nature.
References
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Canton, L. G. (2018). Emergency Management: Concepts and strategies for effective programs (2nd ed.). Wiley.
Carlson, C. D. (2017). Homeland security and emergency management education: An investigation into workforce needs. Scholar Works UA. Web.
Choi, J. & Wende, W. (2020). Trust in emergency management authorities and individual emergency preparedness for tornadoes. Risk, Hazards, & Crisis in Public Policy. 11(1), 12-34. Web.
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Narayanan, S. N., Ganesan, A., Joshi, K., Oates, T., Joshi, A., & Finin, T. (2018). Early detection of cybersecurity threats using collaborative cognition. In International conference on collaborative computing: networking, applications, and worksharing (CollaborateCom). IEEE. Web.
Obaidi, M., Kunst, J. R., Kteily, N., Thomsen, L. & Sidanius, J. (2018). Living under threat: Mutual threat perception drives anti‐Muslim and anti‐Western hostility in the age of terrorism. European Journal of Social Psychology, 48(5), 567–584. Web.
Sedgwick, B., & Hawdon, J. (2019). Interagency cooperation in the era of homeland policing: Are agencies answering the call. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 44, 167–190. Web.
Wyse, D., Selwyn, N., Smith, E., & Suter, L. E. (2016). The BERA/SAGE handbook of educational research. SAGE.
Yung, M., Du, B., Gruber, J., & Yazdani, A. (2021). Developing a Canadian fatigue risk management standard for first responders: Defining the scope. Safety Science, 134. Web.