published_or_final_version / Surveying / Master / Master of Science in Construction Project Management

<p>Problem: -The 2008 Financial crisis has caused global impact on business market and led to question leader's competence. Prior study has found that leadership contributes certain effects to organizations' performace under a crisis situation, however there is lit-tle study which has been made regarding to identifying crisis leadership and its compe-tence and management during crisis.</p><p>Purpose: - The purpose in this thesis is to bridge the gap between crisis management and leadership by finding answers of five research questions. Which are ; How this 2008 financial crisis has affected the international financial institutions, what leadership dimensions are performed by leaders during the financial crisis, which leadership style do leaders tend to rely on in international financial companies during the 2008 financial crisis, why do leaders tend to rely on the dimensions of transformational leadership or transactional leadership and what are the implications in this study that could lead to fu-ture research.</p><p>Method: - The study employs qualitative methods to fulfill better and deeper understanding about 'how' and 'why' on leadership dimension during the 2008 financial crisis. Data were collected by personal interviews to support and act as a foundation of the analysis to answer the research questions. The choice of interviewees is middle managers of large international companies in the financial sector in Sweden and South Korea.</p><p>Conclusions: - The finding of this study indicates that 2008 financial crisis has af-fected on large international financial corporations in Sweden and South Korea. More-over, three dimensions of transformational leadership are strongly performed by the middle managers during the 2008 financial crisis. The three strongly performed dimen-sions are (1) Inspirational Motivation, (2) Charisma/ Idealized Influence and (3) Indivi-dualized consideration.</p>

This study explored the attitudes of public relations professionals regarding crisis communication strategies and discerned patterns of preferred crisis communication strategies through the use of Q Methodology. Using the strategies proposed by Benoit, Fink, Coombs and Lukaszewski as the basis for the concourse, a group of public relations practitioners with crisis experience were asked which crisis response strategy they preferred. Respondents fell into three factors. “Speedsters” focused on achieving a speedy response and building/maintaining the organization’s reputation during a crisis. “Character Builders” use compassion to build/maintain a favorable image and reputation. “Reactors” are focused not just on speeding up the process of resolving the crisis, but on reacting within one hour of the emergency. Coomb’s compassion strategy was favored by all three groups, but was valued most highly by the “Character Builders.” Implications for future research are discussed. / Department of Journalism

CHDS State/Local / This thesis reviews various readiness assessment tools used by military units and the civilian First Responder community. Most civilian readiness assessment tools have fallen short of adequately predicting a response team's probability of mission success or failure. This thesis will explore the use of model-based vulnerability analysis techniques and FT++ software as potential tools that could be adopted by first response organizations to predict a unit's operational performance. / National Disaster Medical System Emergency Coordinator, DHS / FEMA

Applying selected concepts of organizational theory to the Mayaguez incident of 1975 leads to a more comprehensive understanding of events and more accurate lessons learned. Application of organizational theory to the Mayaguez incident demonstrates the decision processes at the executive level left the military operation vulnerable to failure. Henry Mintzberg's structural contingency model and Lee Bowman and Terrence Deal's frames model are used and are applied to executive-level decisions. The rationale behind focusing on the executive level is twofold: first, it is where final critical decisions are made and second, military operations cannot take place without an executive-level authorization. The Mayaguez crisis was rife with potential pitfalls and, though President Ford was equipped with an organization of intelligent, competent personnel, the result was unnecessary loss of life. Publicly, the operation was a success and President Ford the savior of the Mayaguez crew. To the military, the operation was an embarrassment because of failures in the organizational structure and decision making. Application of organizational theory provides an avenue for analysis of the military operation within the Mayaguez rescue.

Humankind conflicts reached a point where the use of terrorism continues to be viewed as an acceptable and valuable instrument to pursue political goals. Because of the fact that the Romanian forces have encountered little action in the terrorism arena, one can say that the Romanian counter-terrorism and antiterrorism arrangements within the law enforcement and military are immature. This paper attempts to shed light upon the current crisis management procedures and how that arrangement can affect the effectiveness of the state response in hostage situation crises both in country and abroad. The paper analyzes five hostage rescue operations, conducted by German, British, Peruvian, and Russian forces, and focuses on three critical procedures that lead to hostage deaths: security measures, negotiations, and handling the media. The analysis exposes that the effectiveness of these procedures will minimize the civilian casualties and will act as prerequisites for successful hostage rescue operations. In the light of the case studies results, a general-based model provides the Romanian authorities with critical tasks faced by either military or law enforcements assets that are required in order to accomplish rescue operations. The project concludes with a number of suggestions for immediate and long-term alleviation of current development problems faced by Romanian Special Operations Forces.

CHDS State/Local / The Citizen Corps (CC) is the primary Department of Homeland Security vehicle for achieving civilian preparedness. CC volunteers are included in the National Preparedness System (NPS) through various sponsoring agencies who determine the roles and functions of the volunteers within their organization. However, not defining the CC as an independent support function within the NPS makes it difficult to isolate data for the purpose of creating Target Capabilities Lists, measuring performance, and including volunteers in operations plans. This thesis posits that to achieve adequate civilian preparedness, the CC's roles and functions need to be restructured to align with the certification systems of the professional emergency response disciplines. CC certifications will also bridge gaps in the response continuum. The CC reorganization will modularize and isolate roles and functions for the purpose of strategic planning, measuring performance levels, serving as a predeployment civilian response, typing, credentialing, and pre-registering as an independent resource capability (which will be essential in planning for a pandemic and surge capacity needs). For planning purposes, and to add visual clarity to the CC roles and functions, the CC should be positioned as an independent Emergency Response Function within the National Response Plan.

CHDS State/Local / First responders have struggled to incorporate strategic direction provided by the federal government into their existing plans. An urgent call for teamwork and cooperation has changed the landscape for America's first responders. They have been required to shoulder new responsibilities and become more networked and interactive with their peer disciplines to achieve higher levels of performance and response capability. This thesis examines interactions among four key homeland security disciplines in the Seattle, Washington urban area. It evaluates how fire service, law enforcement, emergency management, and public health organizations have used federal government guidance and programs to prepare for catastrophic terrorism response. Specifically, it describes how the homeland security roles, organizational cultures, and collaboration challenges currently facing local public safety agencies have impacted the urban area environment. Based on findings from local and national inquiries, it explains how the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the National Planning Scenarios (NPS) have impacted interagency collaboration. This study provides a detailed description of the homeland security environment from the inside by identifying challenges facing first responders and the strengths and gaps in their relationships. Finally, it offers positive policy recommendations to Seattle area public safety executives for increasing interagency cooperation in the urban area. / Captain, Seattle Fire Department

CHDS State/Local / Dependence upon the National Guard for civil support during major domestic incidents is an integral part of homeland security planning. This dependence is well-founded in a review of the Guardâ s historic roles in homeland security, but national and world conditions are quite different today from what they were when the Guard first took on this role. These differences may be creating a drain on its capabilities that is untenable on a long-term basis. Continuing use of the National Guard for homeland securityâ at least at its present levelâ may seriously endanger homeland defense. From the perspective of civil authorities, continuing dependence upon a questionable resource may prove devastating. This report considers the mutual impact of homeland defense and security roles on the National Guard, and how these conflicting responsibilities may be decreasing its ability to support civil authorities. It provides a view of one very possible future that will present significant problems for emergency planners. / Captain, Contra Costa (CA) Office of the Sheriff (Ret.)

"The end of the Cold War marked for Europe the entrance into an era of instability and violence caused by the collapse of the old communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe. How the European security organizations reacted to those changes and new threats and transformed themselves for dealing with a new security environment is the focus of this thesis. In particular, it gives an overview of the transformations that occurred within NATO and OSCE in the post-Cold War period, which have created and developed new security mechanisms and policies for dealing with crises. The thesis further examines the consolidation of a new European security actor, the European Union, and the development of the military dimension through the ESDP, which is linked directly to transformations that occurred in Europe, being merely a consequence of those changes. All three organizations proved their importance as stability factors of the European security system by launching crisis management operations, acting in ceasefire and post-conflict mediation, conducting preventive diplomacy, and spreading democracy and principles of human rights."-- p. i. / Republic of Moldova Army author.