In contemporary society, public services struggle to maintain a high quality of service if the authority responsible for the service delivery experiences resource deficit and increased uncertainties and vulnerabilities. This thesis explores how information and communication technology (ICT) can enable new types of network collaborations – co-production – between government (municipalities) and citizens, for a more effective crisis and emergency response. This is explored in the light of digitalization and taking an end-user perspective. The thesis’s first objective is to describe the transformation toward ICT-enabled co-production. The second objective is to identify opportunities and challenges involved in ICT-enabled co-production. The thesis’s method includes two case studies supported by various theories and approaches: network collaboration (including co-production), sociotechnical systems, and end-user involvement. The data collection is conducted using semi-structured interviews, focus groups, user participation techniques, and document reviews. The intended audience is practitioners (local government and national agencies) and researchers within crisis and emergency response, information systems (IS), and public administration research disciplines and domains (e.g. co-production). The description of the transformation toward ICT-enabled coproduction in crisis and emergency response is a result in its own right. Here, the citizen volunteers become involved in the actual delivery of the response, despite non-specific competence and non-organizational affiliation. In relation to the transformation toward co-production, the thesis concludes that digitalization facilitates end-user involvement in the ICT development process and increases their influence. If open systems as mobile technologies are used, end-users can adapt the technology on their own and add technologies, without the support of the formal developer or local government. The thesis also identifies opportunities and challenges of ICT-enabled co-production. Examples of opportunities include citizen volunteers having a high degree of engagement, being an effective complement to professional responders, and increasing perceived safety in the community. This informal structure of co-production enabled by ICT minimizes the need for local governments to spend resources on managing collaboration. Examples of challenges include the lack of organizational affiliation of volunteers (e.g. integration of citizen volunteers, i.e. end-users with non-organizational affiliation in the technology of the ICT system) and aspects of formal and social control (regulation, and moral and privacy issues). The thesis’s contributions include enriched knowledge of essential aspects to consider when developing ICT-enabled co-production with an end-user perspective, and an understanding of the transformation of the application domain over time and the implications of ICT-enabled coproduction. This makes it easier to comprehend and develop contemporary and future co-productions. The thesis is perceived to have high originality and value since it studies time periods in which local government, technology, and crisis and emergency response have undergone dramatic changes, and explores one of the first Swedish empirical initiatives involving citizen volunteers as responders. Avhandlingen undersöker hur informations- och kommunikationsteknik (IKT) kan möjliggöra nya typer av nätverkssamverkan – co-production – mellan offentliga aktörer (kommuner i detta fall) och frivilliga civila medborgare för att på så sätt få en mer effektiv hantering av kriser och olyckor. Detta görs med bakgrund av minskade resurser i offentlig service, ökad digitalisering, och med fokus på slutanvändare som inte tillhör en formell organisation. Avhandlingen beskriver förändringen till IKT-möjliggjord co-production där frivilliga medborgare larmas ut trots avsaknad av specifik kompetens för uppdraget och organisatorisk tillhörighet. Avhandlingen identifierar även möjligheter och utmaningar när kommuner co-producerar med frivilliga medborgare. Möjligheter inkluderar t ex högt engagemang från frivilliga medborgare och att de är ett effektivt komplement till de professionella aktörerna. Utmaningar innefattar t ex svårigheter med IKT integration av slutanvändare utan organisatorisk tillhörighet, samt legala och etiska oklarheter. Avhandlingen bidrar med kunskap om viktiga aspekter att beakta när IKT-möjliggjord co-production utvecklas, för att på så sätt underlätta förståelse och utveckling av framtida co-productions. Avhandlingen har hög originalitet och värde då den undersöker två tidsperioder där lokal offentlig sektor, digital teknik och hantering av kriser och olyckor har genomgått dramatiska förändringar, samt undersöker ett av de första svenska initiativen där civila medborgare larmas ut som första insatspersoner.
Contemporary global challenges like global warming, rapid urban development, and the current unstable security situation, lead to an increase in large-scale crises (e.g., forest fires) alongside frequent smaller emergencies (e.g., house fires and traffic accidents). The increase in emergencies strains professional response organizations, necessitating additional resources. Civilian volunteers are therefore increasingly being integrated into the response system. The development is mediated by information and communication technologies (ICTs) which enable communication between professional responders (e.g., the municipal rescue services, the emergency medical services, the Public Swedish Answering Point) and citizens. While many studies focus on spontaneous volunteer activities emerging on social media, fewer examine organized volunteerism initiatives at the local emergency response level. Over a decade ago, a municipal rescue service in northern Sweden established an initiative recruiting volunteers as first responders and equipping them with basic response tools. The volunteers undergo training in tasks such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and fire extinguishing. They are dispatched to predefined response tasks using simple ICT applications like SMS lists or mobile apps. This initiative has expanded to other areas due to perceived benefits such as shorter response times and reduced casualties and material damage. The phenomenon can be labelled as an emerging form of ICT-enabled or digitalized co-production of public services. However, previous research indicates a research gap in understanding, describing, and defining this type of co-production. The overall aim of the thesis is to describe how these ICT-enabled initiatives emerge and develop over time and identify the related effects on the response system. This is expected to provide recommendations on how they can be developed and supported. This aim is divided into three specific objectives, where each has been addressed through a research paper: 1- identifying how the existing literature describes ICT-enabled/digitalized volunteerism in large- and small-scale emergencies, 2- identifying how these initiatives emerge and operate, and can be maintained in small-scale emergencies, introducing more systematized knowledge on this concept, 3- initially evaluating the contributions of volunteers in the initiatives. Leaning on a case study approach inspired by action research, a combination of data collection methods has been adopted, e.g., a literature review, interviews, and incident reports filled out by volunteers. For the data analysis, the theoretical lens of ICT-enabled/digitalized co-production of public services has been applied. The first paper is a literature review study that examines digitally enabled volunteering activities in crises and small-scale emergencies. It highlights the prevalence of studies on volunteers using social media for crowdsourcing in crises, often termed digitalized volunteerism which entails virtual and, or physical contributions by volunteers to the response efforts. In contrast, fewer studies focus on volunteers' role in local small-scale emergencies, labelled as "hybrid" ICT-enabled or digitalized coproduction. The term hybrid here refers to the loose affiliation of the volunteers where they collaborate with the rescue services but are not officially associated through binding contracts. Hence, they are in between spontaneous and organized volunteerism. Both volunteering modes support professional response systems and display similar needs for steering, financial support, coordination, and integration of ICT artifacts. However, crises require increased coordination to manage uncertainties, risks, and data overload effectively. The second paper presents three models describing the emergence of hybrid digitalized co-production initiatives in urban and rural areas, as defined in Paper 1, along with how national authorities can support them. These models i.e., Rural, Urban, and National consist of three phases: Recruitment, Response, and Maintenance. Each model exhibits distinct characteristics. In rural areas for example, there is a need for more regular training due to low alerting frequency, and the possibility of using simple dispatch ICTs as cost-effective solutions. Conversely, urban areas have more alerts, necessitating more advanced ICTs, with less emphasis on regular training compared to rural areas. At the macro-level, the national model highlights roles that national actors can play such as facilitating a joint Application Programming Interface (API), joint insurance solutions, and an ICT system that can register incoming and active volunteers. The third paper is an initial evaluation of these initiatives at emergency sites, focusing on ICT-enabled dispatch, estimated response times, tasks performed, and collaboration with professionals, to assess the effects of using volunteers. This approach contrasts with previous studies that took an overall perspective and only used qualitative data. A total of 53 incident reports were collected from volunteers, revealing that volunteers arrived before professionals in twothirds of incidents, contributing to an average gain of 5 minutes. Additionally, volunteers performed a broader range of tasks than previously described, and often continued collaboration with professionals on-site, despite the initial expectation of handing over tasks upon the arrival of professional response actors. Also, comparing this data with the rural model from Paper 2, similarities and differences emerged. For instance, there was a higher number of alerts, and the basic ICTs used for dispatch were deemed insufficient, contrary to the model's perception. The thesis’ scientific contribution is a clearer conception of digitalized co-production of, above all, local emergency response as an emerging phenomenon. In the three papers, the ICT dispatch was identified as central and needs further development to enhance this co-production form. The thesis also sheds light on the need to integrate the initiatives into the official governmental frameworks. Furthermore, the thesis provides a primary understanding of how the concept works on the ground and provides an initial evaluation of the effects. In the practical field, the thesis offers insights into the importance of volunteers as additional resources to the official response systems, highlights challenges, hindrances, and enablers, and suggests potential solutions and improvements. Future work will include a further collection of incident reports for more reliable assessments and complementary interviews with volunteers. Also, the potential role of volunteers in larger crises, for example, as part of civil preparedness, will be further explored. Samhällsutmaningar, såsom klimatförändring och det nuvarande globala säkerhetsläget leder till en ökning av storskaliga kriser. Samtidigt måste frekventa, mindre olyckor (till exempel bostadsbränder och trafikolyckor) även fortsättningsvis. Stora kriser kräver omedelbar hantering men frekventa olyckor leder också till förlust och skador på liv och egendom. Båda innebär en stor belastning på professionella räddningsaktörer. Ett sätt att hantera utmaningarna är samarbetet med frivilliga aktörer i räddningsinsatser. Utvecklingen av information och kommunikationsteknik (IKT) spelar en central roll här eftersom tekniken underlättar tvåvägskommunikation mellan professionella räddningsaktörer (tex räddningstjänst, ambulanssjukvård och larmoperatörer) och frivilliga aktörer. De flesta studier på området fokuserar på spontanfrivilliga som använder sociala medier för krishantering medan färre studier fokuserar på mer organiserade former av frivillighet på lokal nivå och för mindre olyckor. För mer än 10 år sedan initierade en kommunal räddningstjänst i norra Sverige ett initiativ för att rekrytera civila frivilliga som första insatspersoner. Initiativet innebär att de civila insatspersonerna utbildas för att utföra vissa uppgifter, till exempel hjärt-lungräddning, och släcka mindre bränder. De utrustas med enkel utrustning och larmas ut på vissa typer av olyckor med hjälp av grundläggande IKT som SMSlistor eller specialutvecklade appar. Över tid har initiativet spridit sig till fler områden och alltfler räddningstjänster och nationella myndigheter ser att första insatspersoner kan bidra till kortare responstider, vilket minskar antalet skadade människor och mindre materiell förlust. I litteraturen benämns detta fenomen ibland som en framväxande form av digitaliserad samproduktion av offentliga tjänster. Tidigare studier pekar också på ett kunskapsgap när det gäller att beskriva och konceptualisera sådan samproduktion. Avhandlingens övergripande syfte är att beskriva hur dessa initiativ uppstår och utvecklas över tid och identifiera de relaterade effekterna på räddningssystemet. Detta för att kunna ge rekommendationer om hur initiativen kan utvecklas och stödjas. Avhandlingen består av tre delstudier (artiklar). Artikel 1 identifierar hur den befintliga litteraturen beskriver IKT-aktiverat/digitaliserat frivilligarbete vid stora kriser och mindre lokala olyckor. Artikel 2 beskriver hur initiativ uppstår, fungerar och kan upprätthållas över tid vid mindre olyckor. Artikel 3 utvärderar initialt de civila insatspersonernas bidrag till räddningsinsatser. Avhandlingen genomförs som en fallstudie, inspirerad av aktionsforskning där en kombination av datainsamlingsmetoder använts, till exempel en litteraturöversikt, intervjuer och händelserapporter ifyllda av frivilliga. Teoretiska perspektiv runt IKTaktiverad/ digitaliserad samproduktion av offentliga tjänster tillämpas i dataanalysen. Första artikeln är en litteraturöversikt kring digitaliserad frivillighet i kriser och frekventa olyckor. Den visar att insatser av spontanfrivilliga i kriser och sociala medier som en form av "crowdsourcing" är ett väl diskuterat område. Ibland benämns som "digitaliserad frivillighet" och inkluderar både virtuella och fysiska bidrag från frivilliga responsinsatser. Ett fåtal studier fokuserar på frivilligas bidrag till mindre men samtidigt mer frekventa olyckor. När de gör det kallas konceptet ofta "hybrid" IKT-aktiverad eller digitaliserad samproduktion av räddningsinsatser. Hybrid avser här att insatspersonerna samverkar med den kommunala räddningstjänsten men utan officiellt bindande avtal. Därför befinner de sig någonstans mellan spontant och organiserat frivilligarbete. Båda typerna av frivillighet kan stödja de professionella insatssystemen och har liknande behov av styrning, ekonomiskt stöd, samordning och integration av teknik i de professionella responsssystemen. Stora kriser har dock större behov av koordinering för att hantera osäkerheter, risker och undvika "information overload". Den andra artikeln beskriver de digitaliserade hybrida initiativen definierade i Artikel 1 och hur de kan stödjas. Detta genom tre modeller, där två av modellerna relaterar till lokal nivå och stad respektive landsbygd. Den tredje relaterar till nationellt stöd och styrning. Modellerna inkluderar tre faser: Rekrytering, Respons och Underhåll. Varje modell uppvisar likheter och olikheter. I landsbygdsområden finns till exempel ett behov av mer regelbunden träning på grund av låg utlarmningsfrekvens, och det går att använda enkla IKT-lösningar som kostnadseffektiva alternativ. Å andra sidan har stadsområden fler utlarmningar, vilket kräver mer avancerade IKT-lösningar, men samtidigt mindre regelbunden träning då de civila insatspersonerna får mer erfarenhet. På makronivå identifieras roller och uppfifter som nationella aktörer kan ta, såsom att underlätta ett gemensamt applikationsprogrammeringsgränssnitt (API), erbjuda gemensamma försäkringslösningar och utveckla ett IKT-system som kan registrera inkommande och aktiva insatspersoner. Artikel 3 syftar till att initialt utvärdera hur de digitaliserade initiativen fungerar på skadeplatser genom att fokusera på utlarmning, uppskattade responstider, utförda uppgifter, samarbete med professionella, etc. Med andra ord att initialt titta på initiativens effekter. En händelserapport distribuerades till civila insatspersoner och resulterade i 53 ifyllda rapporter. De visar bland annat att insatspersonerna anlände före professionella i två tredjedelar av insatserna och bidrog till en genomsnittlig tidsvinst på 5 minuter. Dessutom visar resultatet att de civila insatspersonerna utför en större bredd av uppgifter än vad tidigare beskrivits inom initiativen och dessutom ofta fortsätter samarbeta med professionella aktörer när de senare anlänt. De civila insatserpersonerna är även villiga att medverka vid storskaliga kriser. Jämfört med landsbygdsmodellen från Artikel 2 framkom likheter och skillnader. Till exempel var det så pass många larm att de IKT-lösningar som användes för att skicka ut larmen bedömdes som otillräckliga och behöver utvecklas. Detta visar även på att modellen behöver revideras och förfinas. Avhandlingens vetenskapliga bidrag är ökad kunskap om det framväxande fenomenet digitaliserad samproduktion (civila insatspersoner som förstainsatsaktörer) av räddningsinsatser. I alla tre artiklarna identifierades IKT-stödet som centralt och som behöver vidareutvecklas för att upprätthålla och förbättra denna form av samproduktion. Avhandlingen belyser också behovet av nationell koordinering och stöd. Vidare ger avhandlingen en primär förståelse för hur konceptet fungerar i praktiken och en initial utvärdering av effekter av att använda insatspersoner. För praktiker ger avhandlingen kunskap om civila insatsperson som ytterligare resurser till de professionella responssystemen, identifierar utmaningar, hinder och möjliggörare, samt föreslår potentiella lösningar och förbättringar. Framtida arbeten kommer att inkludera ytterligare insamling av händelserapporter för mer tillförlitlig utvärdering och kompletterande intervjuer med insatspersoner. Dessutom kommer den potentiella rollen för civila insatspersoner i större kriser, till exempel som en del av civil beredskap, att utforskas vidare.
Co-production and co-creation occur when citizens participate actively in delivering and designing the services they receive. It has come increasingly onto the agenda of policymakers, as interest in citizen participation has more generally soared. Expectations are high and it is regarded as a possible solution to the public sector’s decreased legitimacy and dwindling resources, by accessing more of society’s capacities. In addition, it is seen as part of a more general drive to reinvigorate voluntary participation and strengthen social cohesion in an increasingly fragmented and individualized society. "Co-Production and Co-Creation: Engaging Citizens in Public Services" offers a systematic and comprehensive theoretical and empirical examination of the concepts of co-production and co-creation and their application in practice. It shows the latest state of knowledge on the topic and will be of interest both to students at an advanced level, academics and reflective practitioners. It addresses the topics with regard to co-production and co-creation and will be of interest to researchers, academics, policymakers, and students in the fields of public administration, business administration, economics, political science, public management, political science service management, sociology and voluntary sector studies.
The increasing use of innovative technologies by global businesses has sparked debate about their application in crisis resolution. Resolution tools can be used by global businesses to manage various types of crisis situations, such as natural disasters, information security issues, economic downturns, health crisis situations, and sustainability issues in education, among others. Further study and consideration of the uses of technology in the areas of crisis and change management and intra-company communication practice in the context of global business must be done to ensure successful and sustainable businesses. Future Role of Sustainable Innovative Technologies in Crisis Management raises awareness of the multifaceted field of new technology in crisis management that has resulted in a paradigm shift in the way contemporary industries and global businesses communicate and conduct their daily business operations. This book defines the scope of innovative technologies as the application of new technologies to support the resolution of various types of crisis situations to achieve regulatory compliance and improved risk management in an effective and automated manner. Covering topics such as sustainable business and disaster scenarios, this reference work is ideal for managers, entrepreneurs, researchers, academicians, scholars, practitioners, instructors, and students.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is the premier public resource on scientific and technological developments that impact global security. Founded by Manhattan Project Scientists, the Bulletin's iconic "Doomsday Clock" stimulates solutions for a safer world.
Perfected science is but an idealization that provides a useful contrast to highlight the limited character of what we do and can attain. This lies at the core of various debates in the philosophy of science and Rescher's discussion focuses on the question: how far could science go in principle—what are the theoretical limits on science? He concentrates on what science can discover, not what it should discover. He explores in detail the existence of limits or limitations on scientific inquiry, especially those that, in principle, preclude the full realization of the aims of science, as opposed to those that relate to economic obstacles to scientific progress. Rescher also places his argument within the politics of the day, where "strident calls of ideological extremes surround us," ranging from the exaggeration that "science can do anything"—to the antiscientism that views science as a costly diversion we would be well advised to abandon. Rescher offers a middle path between these two extremes and provides an appreciation of the actual powers and limitations of science, not only to philosophers of science but also to a larger, less specialized audience.
This report from ICT4Peace project describes the background to the project before prsented some selected examples of how information technology has been used for the prevention of conflict and aid with recovery.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is the premier public resource on scientific and technological developments that impact global security. Founded by Manhattan Project Scientists, the Bulletin's iconic "Doomsday Clock" stimulates solutions for a safer world.
The International Conference on Phytochemistry, Textile, & Renewable Energy Technologies for Sustainable Development (ICPTRE 2020) was hosted by the World bank funded Africa Centre of Excellence in Phytochemicals, Textile and Renewable Energy (ACEII-PTRE) based at Moi University in conjunction with Donghua University, China and the Sino–Africa International Symposium on Textiles and Apparel (SAISTA). The theme of the conference was Advancing Science, Technology and Innovation for Industrial Growth. The research relationships between universities and industry have enabled the two entities to flourish and, in the past, have been credited for accelerated sustainable development and uplifting of millions out poverty. ICPTRE 2020 therefore provided a platform for academic researchers drawn from across the world to meet key industry professionals and actively share knowledge while advancing the role of research in industrial development, particularly, in the developing nations. The conference also provided exhibitors with an opportunity to interact with professionals and showcase their business, products, technologies and equipment. During the course of the conference, industrial exhibitions, research papers and presentations in the fields of phytochemistry, textiles, renewable energy, industry, science, technology, innovations and much more were presented.
