Bevers, B.M. (2022) High-Reliability Interorganizational Networks for Cascading Disasters in the Netherlands: an Exploration of Six Veiligheidsregio's. Master thesis, Sociology.
|
Text
Master_Thesis_Final_Bevers(s3213951).pdf Download (1MB) | Preview |
Abstract
In the future, cascading disasters will increase in frequency everywhere in the world, including in the Netherlands, which will bring new challenges for the organizations in charge of emergency management. These challenges stem from the fact that cascading disasters are very complex due to the multiplicity of different incidents, simultaneous or in close succession (Pescaroli & Alexander, 2015; Cutter, 2018). This points to the fact that disaster risk preparedness and -management require the existence of a set of interconnected emergency organizations networks to cooperate with each other and coordinate assistance in order to be high reliable and to provide effective crisis management. In the Netherlands, disaster management is an activity performed by the veiligheidsregio’s (safety regions). There are 25 networks of different organizations that coordinate their activities for risk preparedness and -management. The present study investigates whether the veiligheidsregio’s meet the requirements to be a High Reliability Interorganizational Network, since such a network is able to remain high reliable and continue to operate effectively, which is necessary to be able to deal with cascading disasters. Therefore, this study aims to answer the following research question: In which way would six selected veiligheidsregio’s work as High Reliability Interorganizational Networks during cascading disasters according to their policy- and crisis plans and to the perception of their employees? A set of qualitative research methods was used to answer the research question. The policy- and crisis documents of the six selected veiligheidsregio’s were analyzed using thematic analysis. Next, six semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants working in crisis management departments. These interviews were also analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings of this study suggest that the veiligheidsregio’s are largely consistent with the theory on High Reliability Organizations and Networks and that the veiligheidsregio’s are aware of the cascading disasters, in which they mainly focus on the possible chain effects. Moreover, the veiligheidsregio’s hardly differ in whether or not they possess the characteristics. Since many characteristics of High Reliability Interorganizational Networks are present, it is presumed that the veiligheidsregio’s that were studied can largely be resilient during cascading disasters and continue to work together effectively, which will likely enable them to provide assistance during cascading disasters. However, the veiligheidsregio’s do differ in how they give shape to these characteristics. These are points for them to work on in order to fully become a High Reliability Interorganizational Network. Furthermore, the findings are consistent with previous research on High Reliability Organizations and Networks. Keywords: High Reliability Organization, High Reliability Network, High Reliability Interorganizational Networks, resilience, effectiveness, disaster management, emergency network, Dutch veiligheidsregio’s
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Giardini, F. and Gerner-Haan, M. van |
| Degree programme: | Sociology |
| Differentiation route: | Social Networks In A Sustainable Society [Master Sociology] |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Apr 2022 12:50 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Apr 2022 12:50 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/404 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |