Understanding how groups make strategic decisions in emergencies

This thesis investigates how emergency response groups, specifically Strategic Coordinating Groups, make decisions in time-pressured, high-stakes environments. By analysing video footage of simulated emergency exercises, the approach taken combines the reproducibility of traditional decision-making studies with the realism advocated by the paradigm of Naturalistic Decision Making. The investigation of decision-making at a range of national and international exercises revealed systematic departures from the UK doctrine on making group decisions: The Joint Decision Model. Group decision-making did not follow the sequence of activities assumed by the Joint Decision Model or other normative models of decision-making. There were marked between-group differences in the process of decision-making: some groups can be characterised as information seeking (or explorers), others as action orientated (or exploiters). When making decisions, all groups rarely considered alternative courses of action or options. This thesis provides recommendations on the policy and practice of how Strategic Coordinating Groups train and exercise and make decisions in emergencies. These include a national programme of training for the Chairs of Strategic Coordination Groups, use of controls and tools to support decision-making, and use of external challenge and assessment in strategic decision-making

Histology‐Based Morphology of the Neurocentral Synchondrosis in Alligator Mississippiensis (Archosauria, Crocodylia)

Morphology of the neurocentral synchondroses—thin cartilaginous layers between centra and neural arches—are documented in the extant crocodilian, Alligator mississippiensis (Archosauria, Crocodylia). Examination of dry skeletons demonstrates that neurocentral suture closure occurs in very late postnatal ontogeny (after reaching sexual maturity and/or body size ca. 40% from the upper range). Before sexual maturity (body length (BL) ≥ ca. 1.80 m), completely fused centra and neural arches are restricted to the caudal vertebral series. In contrast, the presacral vertebrae often remain unfused throughout postnatal ontogeny, retaining open sutures in very mature individuals (BL ≥ 2.80 m). These unfused centra and neural arches are structurally supported by the relatively large surface area of the neurocentral junctions, which results from primarily horizontal (mediolateral) increases with strong positive allometry. Cleared and stained specimens show that the cartilaginous neurocentral synchondrosis starts to form after approximately 40 embryonic days. Histological examination of the neurocentral junction in dorsal and anterior caudal vertebrae of six individuals (BL = 0.28–3.12 m) shows : (1) neurocentral fusion is the result of endochondral ossification of the neurocentral synchondrosis, (2) the neurocentral synchondrosis exhibits bipolar organization of three types of cartilaginous cells, and (3) complex neurocentral sutures (i.e., curved, zigzagged, and/or interdigitated boundaries) come from clumping of bone cells of the neural arches and centra into the neurocentral synchondrosis. The last two morphological features can be advantageous for delaying neurocentral fusion, which seems to be unique in crocodilians and possibly their close relatives, including nonavian dinosaurs and other Mesozoic archosaurs. Anat Rec, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/89542/1/21495_ftp.pd

Variation in exploration and exploitation in group decision making: Evidence from immersive simulations of major incident emergencies

Multi‐agency groups are brought together to make strategic decisions in response to major incident emergencies. Here, we investigated decision‐making processes in 18 multi‐agency groups who were video recorded while engaged in simulated major incident emergencies involving a potential need to evacuate individuals from the location of the incident. Three general categories of decision‐making activity were used to code the videos: situation assessment (SA), plan formulation (PF) and plan execution (PE). Analysis of the transitions between these decision‐making activities showed that there were marked between‐group departures from normative models of decision‐making, which predict an orderly transition from SA to PF and then from PF to PE. These departures appeared to reflect between‐group differences in the tendency to explore information (evident in reciprocal transitions between SA and PF) or exploit information (apparent in transitions to and from SA and PF to PE). Moreover, the tendency to explore but not exploit information was associated with the number of transitions to critical decisions (i.e. to evacuate individuals from the location of the incident)

‘It’s there, it’s in front of your face if you put on the radio or the TV’: COVID-19, perceptions of death and dying and the context of public engagement

Background/aims:The COVID-19 pandemic has brought conversations about death and dying to the fore. Prior studies indicate that holding conversations about the future and end of life planning is beneficial but can be very difficult. Therefore, it is important to identify how the pandemic may have affected the conversations people have had, or would want to have, and the potential role of public engagement in that context. The study had two aims: 1) to understand the publics' experiences of participating in conversations about death and dying, and the impact of COVID-19 on those conversations, and 2) to examine the role of public engagement and citizen science in end of life care, death and dying.Methods:A scoping review of the health and social sciences literature was conducted to identify relevant citizen science and public engagement projects. Individual semi-structured interviews (n=12) were conducted with public volunteers between June and August 2021 and analysed using thematic coding.Results:The qualitative interview data generated nine main themes which included the triggers, barriers, and benefits to conversations about death and dying; and the influence of personal factors, such as age.Moreover, the impact of Covid-19 in prompting thinking and conversations about death and dying was clear. The predominance of social dialogue around Covid-19 was reported as beneficial in encouraging useful conversations, however sadness was apparent at those conversations that had not been possible in the pandemic. The scoping review identified 33 articles and numerous public engagement projects, but found no evidence of a citizen science project entirely focused on death or dying.Conclusions:The role of the Covid-19 pandemic in thinking about death and dying was clearly evidenced. Numerous examples of public engagement activities were also identified. However, both the interview and scoping study data highlight the sensitivity of the subjects, and opportunities and constraints in discussing death and dying openly