1 - Operational Dilemmas in Frontline Crisis Response

Summary

Crisis response operations are increasingly important due to the rising number and impact of crises. Frontline personnel of crisis organizations conduct this live-saving and risky work under conditions of uncertainty, threat, and time pressure. Some notable examples are emergency responders, military personnel, and humanitarian aid workers. Although their crisis response activities may vary considerably, they operate under similar circumstances and face the same operational dilemmas. This introduction presents eleven crisis response dilemmas that crisis responders face again and again. Still, little is known about how to deal with these dilemmas and dispersed research findings offer competing solutions. By integrating existing research on frontline crisis response, this book problematizes simple solutions to crisis response dilemmas and provides a basis for reflective thinking about possible improvements. As such, it gives an insight into the main theories and research topics on crisis response, and provides a comprehensive analysis of how frontline crisis responders organize and implement their activities amidst the chaos of crises.