AEMI - A CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

Michael Tarrant

Disasters and Crisis: Dilemmas and Challenges for Boards

Disasters

Demand

Resources

50%

6

The Evolution of Australian Emergency Management Theory and Practice

Post WW2

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

Future

Tim

efr

am

eC

on

cep

tsC

on

text

s

War (Civil Defence)Natural Disasters

Technological DisastersLifelines Critical

Infrastructure ‘Security’

Complexity & Turbulence

Response and relief

PPRRCommunity focus &

ERM

Whole of government

Core part of governance

Resilience

Major changes to the organisation/community

• Need to work with different agencies/organisations. “the organisation was hampered by a lack of clarity about the roles and responsibilities of the various agencies.”

• Organisations have to shift to non-routine functioning

Organisations

A social unit of people, systematically structured and managed to pursue objectives on a continuing basis.

“Reducing uncertainty by creating zones of stability”

Simon 1961

Control System

After Bob GarrattHow do we drive an organisation forward whilst keeping it under prudent control

Strategy

Operations

“The Board”Direction

Performance

“The Business”

Organisational efficiency

Organisational effectiveness

Monitoring internal & external

environment

Board Conformance

RolesPerformance

Roles

External

Providing accountability to stakeholders including regulators Who needs to know about the situation and who will do it? Government, Regulator, Donors, Partners…?

Strategic thinking and direction settingWhat are the implications of this situation for the future direction of the organisation? What are the threats? What are the opportunities? New partners?

Internal

Monitoring and supervising What changes to the organisation’s control system might need to be made in light of this situation?

Policy making and guidance to the CEO and executive teamWhat policy and guidance does the board need to give to the CEO and executive team?

Risk Management• “the chance of something happening that will have an

impact on objectives”. AS/NZS 4360

• “effect of uncertainty on objectives” ISO 31000