In conclusion
Emergency response operations are more complex than one
would think on first impression. The work in connection with
them must, primarily, be based on the assistance need. Then, on
the basis of assistance need, various measures are applied to the
purpose of providing assistance. There are resources available, and
these have to be organised and managed purposefully, irrespec-
tive of whether a single or a combination of response operations
is concerned. The various types of decisions that are taken, by
vari ous individuals, must be wellgrounded and take into account
resources, damage, object and assistance need generally.
A considerable amount of knowledge is required in order to
manage this. This knowledge needs to cover such aspects as la-
bour legislation, the affects of management on individuals and
groups, how stress affects an individual’s behaviour and decision
making, as well as knowledge of courses of events in time and
space. It is through knowledge that the conditions are created for
gaining and maintaining control, and it is through a tactical ap-
proach that the situation is best managed, irrespective of the deci-
sion domain concerned.
A tactical approach is based on using resources as effectively
as possible with consideration for the assistance need, the dyna
mics of the situation, time and space, and the requirements of
the situation generally, to the purpose of gaining and maintain-
ing control. In addition, the culture of the organisation and how,
among other things, command is handled and exer cised influence
the means of meeting the assistance need. The question of gain-
ing and maintaining control has to be dealt with by each decision
domain in such a way that the situation is managed in an anticipa-
tive manner, so that the situation at hand can be concluded. The
individuals involved in a response operation must have a tactical
approach to achieving the goal, and the system must, to different
degrees, be flexible and auto nomous. A tactical approach lays the
ground for action preparedness for alternative courses of events
and the opportunity to, in addition to managing ongoing response
operations, also cover the risk situation and emergency prepared-
ness production.