Question One
System
An estimate of between 200 to 1000 migrants and homeless people has set camp “along the railroads tracks west of Quincy, FL, and South of US 90.” The camp in question sits on a ground that is susceptible to tornadoes. Specifically, the ground is marshy coupled with the fact that it has been “in the path of several tornadoes” in the past. The underlying problem is that the evacuation plan and other emergency response mechanisms might not be effective in the event of an emergency. This potential failure is attributable to the fact that the camp residents might not be in a position to understand the evacuation protocols. Most of them do not know how to interpret the warning signals such as sirens. Even if they do, they are not equipped with the knowledge on how to act in response to the warning signals. For instance, they may not know where to go. Additionally, there is a problem as to the statistics of the camp residents. The exact number of the residents is not known. Therefore, any emergency response would be an exercise in conjecture.
Accordingly, the desired outcome of the system is to efficiently provide information on emergency preparedness concerning tornadoes to the camp residents. Moreover, the system is aimed at ensuring that the information in question is internalized by the camp residents and that they are will be in a position to act accordingly in case of an emergency. To this end, the vulnerability of the camp to tornado incidences will be emphasized and the disastrous impacts thereof. This will act as an incentive to counter the disincentive problem attributable to the fact that the camp residents do not appreciate the need for emergency preparedness. Thereafter, warning signals and their interpretations will be explained. In addition, response mechanisms such as evacuation protocols will be explained to the camp residents.
With regard to the system boundaries, various elements constitute the system in question. To begin with, the community residents form the crucial element as they are the target of the system coupled with the fact that they are the first ones who will be directly impacted in the event of a tornado. Additionally the schools form another indispensable element. This position is informed by the fact that the schools constitute the major component through which the camp residents derive their limited contacts with the external communities. More so, the schools play a significant role in imparting the information on emergency preparedness in the children of the camp residents. As such, the children will be able to transmit the same to the camp. Therefore, the schools are invaluable elements in the system. On the other hand, the role served by the local churches cannot be down-played. They complement the functionality of the school component by directly reaching out to older members of the camp who do not have the benefit of direct contact with schools. In this regard, they can be used to sensitize the community on the need for emergency preparedness and the information on the same. Moreover, local merchants comprise a key component in the system. It is through them that the camp residents can access their livelihoods. Additionally, they have direct pecuniary interest in the well being of the camp as it constitutes a market for their goods and services. If anything, they frequent the camp and emergency incidences occasioned by tornadoes can occur while at the scene. Therefore, they have a proper incentive to assist in equipping the camp residents with capabilities to be able to effectively respond to emergency incidences.
The system will be implemented in the geographical area occupied by the camp. Particularly, railroads along west of Quincy, FL, and South of US 90 will form the primary geographical area of interest. Additionally, secondary locations such as the churches and the schools attended by the members of the community form other areas of interest upon which the system will be implemented.
The Roles of Each Element of the System
The action plan seeks to involve all the system elements by assigning each of them appropriate responsibilities. For instance, the camp residents will be involved in collection of demographical data of all the residents in the camp. Additionally, they will be involved in the formation of local committees. The committees will be charged with mobilization of the said meetings and communicating warnings of impending tornado disaster as received from the Meteorological Department. Besides, they will be the first ones involved in emergency response in case of an incident by rallying the camp residents to the evacuation points. Moreover, they will be involved in mobilization of the residents to attend educative and consultative meetings. The system’s action plan tasks the churches and the schools with the responsibility of sensitizing the community on the need for emergency preparedness and equipping them with the necessary information about emergency response protocols. The local merchants will be responsible for mobilization of part of the resources to be used in the implementation of the system. Additionally, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be involved. Specifically, it will assist in provision of resources in form of financial, human, and technical resources. Other departments such as the Meteorological departments play a crucial role in the implementation of the action plan. They will be responsible for monitoring the tornado patterns and provision of appropriate advices to the County Emergency Management Department and other relevant institutions. Furthermore, other relevant institutions such as the non-governmental organizations involved in critical incident interventions and restitution interventions will be involved in the implementation of the action plan. The roles played by them will vary as a function of their specialization and capacity. However, they will basically supplement the efforts of the County Emergency Management Department through resource mobilization and sensitization of the camp residents on emergency preparedness. The county emergency agency will be responsible for the involvement of other stakeholders and coordination of all the elements to ensure successful implementation of the action plan. It will be responsible for measuring and monitoring the progress of the system as well.
The strategy to be used in putting the system in place will be carried out in three phases. To begin with, consultative meetings with all the stakeholders will be held in order to drum up their respective support. Thereafter, a coordinating council will be formed whose role will ensure the coordination of all the players involved in spearheading the implementation of the action plan. It shall have a representative from all the concerned institutions. Once their support is augmented, and the roles of each element stipulated, the second phase will involve the execution of the action plan. Here, meetings with the community will be held and the risk faced by them by reason of residing in a tornado prone area explained to them. They will be then asked to elect members into local committees based on the established FEMA guidelines. The sensitization of the residents in schools, churches and during the community meetings will then take place. Besides, mock drills will be carried out to test the preparedness of the community. The third phase entails monitoring of the progress.
Potential Problems
The system might be faced with a number of problems. Among them is the suddenness of the disaster. A tornado might strike before the action plan is properly executed. Accordingly, the community will be caught inadequately prepared. In addition, the implementation of the system might be impeded by inadequacy of funds. This is due to the perception that resettling the camp residents in a safe area seems to be more prudent course of action to other stakeholders as opposed to investing the limited resources in preparing them for the disaster. As a result, the plan might not receive enough funds.
Metrics for system effectiveness
It will be crucial to measure and monitor the progress of the system in order to determine and rate its effectiveness. Therefore, the system proposes five metrics for system effectiveness. These entail mock drills, checking risk awareness, checking emergency preparedness and response and post disaster metrics.
Question Two
The decision by the Quincy County Commission to ignore the camp and its residents by reason of the concern by the developers that it will make housing developments less attractive exemplifies bounded rationality problem.
Question Three
The unexpected system failure is an example of wicked problem. This is due to the fact that it manifests the attributes that are unique to the wicked problem. It is characterized by internally conflicting objectives within the main wicked problem. Specifically, the suggested solution to the problem implies that other equally importance costs have to be forgone, a feature that resonates with the wicked problem. Besides, the problem fails to offer a clear solution. Therefore, addressing it may result in other unforeseen problems. Involvement of other stakeholders cannot be dispensed with in addressing it. Therefore, it is a wicked problem.
Question Four.
A
The campus entities in yellow represent the campus functional areas that are the “initial points of attack” of a tornado.
B
Question Five
A system is made up of elements, connections and function.
Question Six
The situation depicted by the video, ‘boatlift’ is an excellent example of “Tiger” strategy for solving system problems.
Question Seven
Grocery stores are the dominant nodes due to their sheer numbers whereas the distribution centers, public health department the restaurants are the keystone nodes due to numerous connections.
Question Eight
Bureaucracy B will most successfully deal with a new situation that forces it to do things that are outside its normal scope. This is due to the fact that Bureaucracy B is still flexible and can easily adjust its functionality to address the problem as opposed to Bureaucracy A which is rigid by reason of its long existence.
Question Nine
When designing a system, analysis of the problem should be done first. Thereafter, desired outcomes ought to be identified.
Question Ten
An army brigade is an example of a hierarchical system. It is not a good model for dealing with a national pandemic. This is due to the rigidity of its command structure.
Question Eleven
Obama’s leadership skills is characterized by good communication and responsibility traits on one hand, whereas Bush’s approach is characterized by sternness, communication and adaptability.
Question Twelve
Fixing a stagnating economy by opening a lot of dairy queens in Reykjavik due to the observation of a direct correlation between increase in economic performance and increase in ice cream consumption in Iceland is an example of linear thinking in a non-linear world.
Question Thirteen
If I do not include neighborhood clinics in designing a system to improve health care in a community, I am making a bounded rationality problem.
Question Fourteen
The better metric to be used in designing a system to improve the health of the citizens of Mississippi is the number of people with health care insurance. This is due to the fact that it is more conclusive compared to the number of people with diabetes since the observation of a number of people with diabetes is capable of many inferences.
References
Ciottone, G. R. (2006). Disaster Medicine. Philadelphia: Mosby.
FEMA. (2011, December). A Whole Community Approach to Emergency Management: Principles, Themes, and Pathways for Action. Retrieved April 21, 2016, from U.S. Department of Homeland Security: https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/20130726-1813-25045-0649/whole_community_dec2011__2_.pdf
Hamner, M. P. (2015). Emergency Management and Disaster Response Utilizing Public-Private Partnerships. Hershey, PA: Information Science References.
Walsh, D., Lord, G., & Christen, H. T. (2012). National Incident Management System: Principles and Practice. Sudbury, MA: Jone & Barlette Learning.
Wilson, J. L. (2001). The State of Emergency Management 2000: The Process of Emergency Management Professionaliztion in the United States and Florida. Dissertation.com.
