Improving decision making in crisis

Area of Science:

• Decision Science
• Emergency Management
• Cognitive Psychology

Background:

• Effective decision-making is paramount during emergencies and crises.
• Existing literature on decision-making is vast but often lacks specific focus on crisis situations.
• Understanding cognitive challenges is vital for improving response outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore decision-making challenges faced during emergencies.
• To introduce concepts of sense-making/decision-making domains.
• To identify human behaviors (decision derailers) affecting judgment and provide strategies for improvement.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focused on decision-making in crisis contexts.
• Conceptual framework development for sense-making/decision-making domains.
• Analysis of human behavioral factors impacting decision-making.

Main Results:

• Identification of specific challenges in emergency decision-making.
• Introduction of the 'decision derailers' concept.
• Framework for leveraging cognitive insights to enhance emergency response decisions.

Conclusions:

• Knowledge of decision-making processes and potential derailers can significantly improve emergency response.
• Emergency responders can benefit from understanding cognitive biases and sense-making domains.
• Targeted strategies can mitigate negative behavioral impacts on critical decisions during crises.