The competing pressures paradigm: A tool for improving emergency and continuity planning efficacy?

Area of Science:

• Emergency Management
• Organizational Theory
• Societal Planning

Background:

• Current emergency and continuity planning often overlooks crucial organizational and societal pressures.
• Existing models may not adequately address the complexity of factors influencing planning efficacy.
• A need exists for a comprehensive framework to guide planners in managing diverse pressures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the competing pressures paradigm (CPP) as a conceptual model for improving planning.
• To highlight five key pressures: legislative compliance, organizational alignment, managerial preference, usability, and societal needs.
• To provide a tool for critical reflection and proactive strategizing in emergency and continuity management.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual model development based on identifying and analyzing competing pressures.
• Exploration of five constituent pressures: legislative, organizational, managerial, usability, and societal.
• Presentation of the CPP as a theory, learning tool, and planner's aide-memoire.

Main Results:

• The CPP framework identifies five critical pressures influencing planning efficacy.
• It distinguishes between overt (legislative, organizational, managerial) and covert (usability, societal) pressures.
• The model promotes a more holistic and proactive approach to planning.

Conclusions:

• The competing pressures paradigm offers a robust theoretical and practical framework for enhancing planning.
• By addressing all five pressures, planners can achieve greater efficacy in emergency and continuity management.
• The CPP serves as a valuable learning tool for professionals in the field.