Considering the Perspective of Emergency Management Professionals Regarding Radiological Response and School Resiliency

The purpose of the study is to consider the perspective of emergency management professionals regarding need for a radiological response plan and its implications to school resiliency. This study utilizes a three-round, Modified Delphi Method to provide structure for the group process, elicit experts’ opinions, and build consensus regarding radiological response and school resiliency. The experts’ opinions are analyzed at the conclusion of each round and synthesized to create considerations for school systems for a school-system-based radiological-specific response plan. The recommendations align existing school system’s capabilities, roles and responsibilities with required emergency response actions necessary to protect the health and safety of faculty, staff, and students during a disaster such as the release of radioactive substances. Emergent themes surfacing during this study include: (1) training, (2) all-hazard planning, (3) communication, (4) collaboration, (5) medical response, and (6) protective actions. The results and recommendations from this study have generalizability for future practice and implementation of emergency management in a school setting, business and industry and for other local, state federal and tribal organizations. The major finding from this study indicates that an all-hazards plan is sufficient for response to a radiological-specific emergency event

Risk management and nonbank participation in the U.S. retail payments system

The retail payments system in the United States has changed significantly in recent years. Advances in technology have caused a greater reliance on electronic payment networks. And the industrial structure of the payment services industry has evolved, as more and more nonbanks deliver payment products to end users and supply back-end processing. In general, these changes have made the payments system more efficient and given more choices to consumers and more payment options to merchants and businesses. ; At the same time, however, the rapid pace of change has introduced new risks to the payments system. First, as more and more banks market payment services to nonbanks and outsource payments processing, the differences in information possessed by payments participants can magnify difficulties in managing risk. Second, electronic payments have a significantly different risk profile than paper checks. Third, greater complexity of the payments network potentially reduces incentives to manage risk and may cause difficulties in coordinating risk mitigation. ; Sullivan lays the groundwork for a dialogue on policy to control risk in the U.S. retail payments system. He concludes that a thorough review of supervisory authority relevant to retail payments would be valuable. In particular, the original authority to supervise nonbank payment processors was established over 40 years ago, when the primary reason for establishing that authority was the use of computer technology applied to bank accounting systems. Is that authority adequate given the revolutionary changes in the payments technology seen over the last four decades?Payment systems

Stories of Resiliency: Successful Female Educational Leaders

We examined the reported experiences of 12 successful female educational leaders as stories of resiliency development through overcoming or coming back from adversity. Specifically, the reported experiences of these women were examined to determine: When did adversity evidence itself in the lives of these leaders? Were any of the adversity experiences common among the women in terms of when they occurred and the contexts or settings in which they occurred? What strategies did these women use in overcoming or coming back from these adversity experiences? Do the reported experiences of these twelve successful female educational leaders align with the literature on resiliency in children, adversity and failure in leadership development, and barriers to success as gender issues? In presenting this information, a brief overview of the literature on leadership and resiliency is offered to establish the perspectives that motivated this study. Next, a description of the methods used to gather and analyze the data for addressing the question posed is presented. A cameo sketch of each of the 12 women is provided; the sketches are followed by data displays that respond to the questions posed here. In closing, a summary of the findings and an interpretation of what they mean in terms of personal and professional development for educational leaders generally and for female educational leaders are posed

How elementary school principals in an Ontario school board use resiliency strategies to manage adversity in their leadership

The purpose of this exploratory case study was to gather, examine, and define school leadership ‘adversity experiences’ of elementary school principals in an Ontario school board. This qualitative study examined how principals use resiliency strategies to manage adversity in the course of their school leadership. Lastly, the study examined supports, professional learning, and/or programs specific to the Ontario context that exist for principals experiencing adversity. The purposeful sample was fifteen elementary school principals and one superintendent of education. They were interviewed one-on-one using semi-structured questions during the winter 2016. Those data were analyzed using a modified form of constant comparative analysis and then triangulated with documents obtained from the school board. Findings indicated: elementary principals’ work-related adversity is challenging; may be day-to-day, chronic, or crisis events involving staff, parents, school communities, and the system; may be stressful to principals, but not always seen by them in a negative light; resiliency strategies that principals use help them bounce back and thrive, may be learned, and contain elements of collegial support, an optimistic disposition, and physical activity; many supports for principals to lead and manage amidst adversity and develop resiliency exist but principals may have their own unique and individual needs; relationships with their school board and superintendents may or may not be seen as supportive by principals, and supports may or may not be accessed. Several conclusions emerged: because of their complex and demanding roles, elementary principals experience a variety of adversity experiences with several stakeholders; collegial relationships, optimism, and physical activities are fundamental resiliency strategies; school boards and superintendents should play an increasing role in supporting elementary principals with adversity experiences and their development of resiliency; principals need opportunities to meet with their colleagues and discuss adversity experiences in formal and informal ways in which they feel safe and respected; principals need opportunities to develop their resiliency strategies and investigate professional learning, tailored one-on-one and group based supports, and/or programs to manage adversity and develop resiliency; and boards need to investigate supports available for principals and create an accessible means by which principals can locate and use this information

A Quantitative Research Study on Probability Risk Assessments in Critical Infrastructure and Homeland Security

This dissertation encompassed quantitative research on probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) elements in homeland security and the impact on critical infrastructure and key resources. There are 16 crucial infrastructure sectors in homeland security that represent assets, system networks, virtual and physical environments, roads and bridges, transportation, and air travel. The design included the Bayes theorem, a process used in PRAs when determining potential or probable events, causes, outcomes, and risks. The goal is to mitigate the effects of domestic terrorism and natural and man-made disasters, respond to events related to critical infrastructure that can impact the United States, and help protect and secure natural gas pipelines and electrical grid systems. This study provides data from current risk assessment trends in PRAs that can be applied and designed in elements of homeland security and the criminal justice system to help protect critical infrastructures. The dissertation will highlight the aspects of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP). In addition, this framework was employed to examine the criminal justice triangle, explore crime problems and emergency preparedness solutions to protect critical infrastructures, and analyze data relevant to risk assessment procedures for each critical infrastructure identified. Finally, the study addressed the drivers and gaps in research related to protecting and securing natural gas pipelines and electrical grid systems

A framework for assessing robustness of water networks and computational evaluation of resilience.

Arid regions tend to take careful measures to ensure water supplies are secured to consumers, to help provide the basis for further development. Water distribution network is the most expensive part of the water supply infrastructure and it must maintain performance during unexpected incidents. Many aspects of performance have previously been discussed separately, including reliability, vulnerability, flexibility and resilience. This study aimed to develop a framework to bring together these aspects as found in the literature and industry practice, and bridge the gap between them. Semi-structured interviews with water industry experts were used to examine the presence and understanding of robustness factors. Thematic analysis was applied to investigate these and inform a conceptual framework including the component and topological levels. Robustness was described by incorporating network reliability and resiliency. The research focused on resiliency as a network-level concept derived from flexibility and vulnerability. To utilise this new framework, the study explored graph theory to formulate metrics for flexibility and vulnerability that combine network topology and hydraulics. The flexibility metric combines hydraulic edge betweenness centrality, representing hydraulic connectivity, and hydraulic edge load, measuring utilised capacity. Vulnerability captures the impact of failures on the ability of the network to supply consumers, and their sensitivity to disruptions, by utilising node characteristics, such as demand, population and alternative supplies. These measures together cover both edge (pipe) centric and node (demand) centric perspectives. The resiliency assessment was applied to several literature benchmark networks prior to using a real case network. The results show the benefits of combining hydraulics with topology in robustness analysis. The assessment helps to identify components or sections of importance for future expansion plans or maintenance purposes. The study provides a novel viewpoint overarching the gap between literature and practice, incorporating different critical factors for robust performance

Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationThis dissertation is a phenomenological study presented in a three-article format. The dissertation is a phenomenological exploration of the lived experiences of peace officers following the use of deadly force. This is a qualitative study with quantitative data integrated for the purposes of providing additional perspective as well as a transparent means for the reader to check the author's description of the textual data. Quantitative data is included in the respective results sections. The first article is entitled "A Phenomenological Examination of Internal Factors Influencing Peace Officers' Lived Experience Following the Use of Deadly Force." This manuscript is part one of a two-part qualitative examination of peace officers' lived experience in the aftermath of deadly force incidents. The focus of the first manuscript are the individual factors affecting the process of resiliency. Article two is entitled "A Phenomenological Examination of Ecological Factors Influencing Peace Officers' Lived Experience Following the Use of Deadly Force." This manuscript is part two of a two-part qualitative examination of individual peace officers' experience in the aftermath of deadly force incidents. This article utilizes the same data set and methods as the first article. Themes pertaining to external factors affecting the process of resiliency are described. Article three is entitled "Supporting Resilient Reintegration Following the Use of Deadly Force: Research Implications for Law Enforcement Agencies." This manuscript is written as an editorial presenting recommendations for law enforcement agency policy and practice that support peace officer resilience during the process of investigating use of deadly force incidents