9. Organising and
managing emergency
response operations
Managing one or more simultaneous emergency response oper
ations is a very complicated process when considering all the ele-
ments involved. In order to create a context for discussion it is ne-
cessary to simplify and combine or generalise many phenomena,
processes, regulations and other aspects that constitute the lead-
ership of response operations. The section describes a model for a
command system. It is based on a system approach – the whole is
greater than the sum of the constituent parts. The system, then,
is considered as a collection of parts, where the relationship bet-
ween them is at least as important as the parts themselves.
The model provides for viewing the various elements from dif-
ferent perspectives, without losing the total overview. This means
that it can be used to assist in the configuration of the organisa-
tion, to show how authority is allocated between individuals and
how through this, an organization can be built up. The model can
also assist individuals in one and the same organ isation to under-
stand their roles in the context, to speak the same language and,
on the grounds of the situation at hand, create a flexible and goal
oriented organisation. Note that this concerns a basic model only.
Its practical application then calls for reflection and adaptation.
The model is in the first place intended for use by municipal fire
brigades.
Command activities
Command can be considered as a consciously applied influ-
ence on a system consisting of people and technology, through,
among other things, continual planning, execution and follow
up (Swedish Rescue Services Agency, 1998a). Command involves
the manage ment of a number of activities. To fulfil the demands
and expectations that are placed on those in command, they are