Approaching disaster management through social learning

O'Brien, Geoff, O'Keefe, Phil, Gadema, Zaina and Swords, Jon (2010) Approaching disaster management through social learning. Disaster Prevention and Management, 19 (4). pp. 498-508. ISSN 0965-3562

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)

Abstract

Purpose
Coping with and adjusting to disruptive challenges has always been a characteristic of human development. Formalisation of this has led to the emergence of a number approaches addressing disruptive challenges. Often formalised practice has a narrow focus. Increasingly complex
challenges require a refocus of formalised approaches. Drawing from these approaches, the purpose of this paper is to posit that a greater focus on preparedness through pre-disaster planning is needed for a more holistic approach to disaster management.

Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews the evolution of disaster management thinking and practice and proposes that changes are needed to the dominant disaster management model. These changes are drawn from a number of alternative perspectives. Based on the uncertainties
surrounding complex or “wicked” problems, for example, climate change and variability, this paper develops a more holistic approach.

Findings
Responding to “wicked problems” requires a greater focus on preparedness. In terms of disaster risk reduction a greater emphasis on pre-disaster planning is needed driven by social learning processes.

Originality/value
Faced with an increasingly uncertain and complex future, current approaches to conceptualising disaster management are inadequate. This paper develops an approach that is likely to be more effective.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	disasters, learning, risk analysis, social processes, sustainable development
Subjects:	L700 Human and Social Geography
Department:	Faculties > Engineering and Environment > Geography and Environmental Sciences
Depositing User:	Geoffrey O'Brien
Date Deposited:	14 Mar 2012 15:28
Last Modified:	13 Oct 2019 00:30
URI:	http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/5726

Downloads