Planning group review
A planning group is essential to the development of appropriate emergency management plans.
We discussed planning groups in detail in the risk assessment subject, and you will have used one to conduct your risk assessment. We now need to consider the appropriateness of your planning group membership for the purpose of planning. But first, let us return to why you need to use a planning group.
Well-prepared (emergency) plans specify what will be done, where, when, and by whom, to meet the specific demands of emergency conditions. Such plans can be developed only by representatives of operating departments and non-governmental groups with emergency missions. 'Paper plans' prepared by the emergency program manager working alone, with little participation by operating departments, are of little value. In an actual emergency they will not be used. The development of a written plan, therefore, is not an end in itself. A written emergency plan does not guarantee that actual operations will be effective. But the process of planning that leads to the development of a written plan is extremely valuable. This is because the officials who are responsible for emergency operations have spent time determining which official will do what and how operations will be co-ordinated.
McLoughlin, D. (1985). A framework for integrated emergency management', Public Administration Review 45, Special Issue, p. 169.
Not only is a planning group necessary for preparing response and recovery plans, but it is also a requirement of effective prevention. Prevention activities need a high degree of commitment and inter-organisational coordination.
Activity 2.2
 |
|
1. |
Here are some questions you might like to ask yourself now.
- Who are you going to have on your planning group?
- How are you going to call the first meeting?
- Who chairs, who takes the minutes? What will the briefing be about?
|
2. |
I would like you to write down who was on your planning group for the conduct of your risk assessment.
|
|
Risk Assessment Planning Group: |
|
|
3. |
Now, what do you think are the selection criteria for a group of people who wish to develop an emergency management plan?
|
|
|
Emergency Plan - Planning Group Selection Criteria: |
|
|
4. |
After reviewing your risk assessment planning group and the criteria required for your emergency plan planning group, who are you going to have as members of your planning group for the development of your emergency management plan? Please write down the name, position and organisation (you may have to do some research to come up with a final list) of each member. |
|
|
|
| Name |
Position |
Organisation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Read
Reading 1: Evaluating group effectiveness
O'Hair and Friedrich give some practical suggestions which might assist you to evaluate the contributions of previous group members objectively (including yourself!). You do not have to use their evaluation forms, and they should not be included in your final project, but they provide some useful guidance.
Now you need to consider how you are going to:
- brief the committee on the planning process (if necessary);
- call meetings;
- decide on a chairperson;
- take minutes, etc.
|
|
Textbook
AEM: Emergency Planning , Chapter 3.
Recommended reading
Emergency Management Australia (1992). AEM – Community emergency planning guide. Chapter 3 – The planning committee. EMA, Canberra .
This reading is from the original AEM - Community emergency planning guide that was replaced by your textbook above. The guide is available on your Course Resources CDROM. The reason I have included it here is that it compliments the current text and provides a little more information on the underlying concepts and principles associated with identification of appropriate planning committee/ planning group members.
|
|
|
5. |
Write down how you will address points (a) to (f) of paragraphs 3.08 and 3.09 in the Recommended Reading above. |
Assignment activity
You will need to document your planning group review as per the timetable in your Project Definition. The discussion of this review and the members of the planning group form part of your Major Project assignment (Assignment 2).
Print this activity
|
