Tactics, command, leadership

(Axel Boer) #1

The issues concerning time and dependency on time that should,
among others, be taken into account are:
The speed at which the situation develops in terms of time.
Is there any development/change at all? How should one, for ex-
ample, consider the progress of time, as cyclic or linear? Does the
speed aspect of the situation change, for example, because of cy-
clic, recurring conditions, such as night and day?
The speed of change with regard to the threat situation, i.e. the
speed at which the threat situation within the municipality chan-
ges over time. Also here one can reflect over whether time should
be taken as cyclic or linear.
The autonomy that is built into the system, i.e. the time in-
terval during which all or parts of the system can function alone
without some form of input or stimulation from other parts or
from outside. An emergency response operation must continue
for as long as the need for assistance remains (until the criteria of
legislation is met), regard less of whether there is a senior officer
delegating tasks or not.
The capacity to quickly activate the command organisation, re-
sulting in valuable time being saved in the initial stages, when the
planned system is put to the test. A response operation can pro-
ceed for some time without any overall leadership, but eventually
shortcomings in effectiveness and coordination will make it ne-
cessary. Decision makers at different levels will have various opp-
ortunities to influence the development in the time and space.
The variation in needs of the various decision makers in the
time and space, with regard to, for example, degree of detail in
the flow of information.
The command system must provide a degree of sustainability
that matches the expected duration of the response operation or
operations, i.e. the staying power must align with the prognosis
for the response operation or operations that are being executed.
This sustainability must also be continually capable of adapting to
changes in the threat situation and emergency preparedness. Con-
sequently, when dimensioning, for example, a command system,
more needs to be taken into account than simply its capability
to initiate response operations. The capacity to command over a
period of time, i.e. to carry through and complete the operation as
well as maintain preparedness in relation to the threat situation
must also be accommodated. The command system should be pro-
vided with a degree of sustainability corresponding to the duration

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