Risk Management Planning: Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service - Case Study Example

Name : xxxxxxxxxxx Institution : xxxxxxxxxxx Course : xxxxxxxxxxx Title : Risk management planning Tutor : xxxxxxxxxxx @2010 Table of Contents Objectives 5 Methodology 7 Research Design 7 Sampling Techniques and Sample Size 8 Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria 9 Research Instruments 9 Pre-testing 9 Data Collection Procedures 10 Methods of Data Analysis 10 Ethical considerations 10 Risk management planning: Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service Introduction Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service implemented a risk management planning practice in 1999. This practice made out comprehensible long-term objectives involving planned goals with the budget establishing process and Directorate workloads as well. Corporate governance obligations within local government and the fire authority commissioned an external assessment to be carried out to find out the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s arrangements in this regard. After this, a risk management planning was developed in order to identify, evaluate, control and assess risks presented to the organization and as a result decrease its risk exposure (Loffler 2009). Risk management planning has been widely utilized for along time within health in addition to safety and emergency planning areas. Nevertheless, in the context of Fire and Rescue services’ risk, it has been a very important application in managing risks and in preparation as well. Risk management planning has been identified as the process of risk management by developing a “no surprises’ environment’. The key principle of this process is that by managing risks efficiently, an organization will be in a stronger and better position to deliver its services effectively, deliver its organizational objectives and offer improved services and better value for money. The risk management planning system within Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service was founded on the Office of Government Commerce's Risk Management representation (Loffler 2009). Risk identification The first stage of the risk management planning process at Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service was to what was at risk within the organization and its was of offering services and the reason as to why those areas were at risk. The main objective was to identify the 20% percent of the risk which presented about 80% of the possible impact for the organization (Matthews 2009). Risk ownership After identification of the risk areas, it is essential to assign roles at a senior level for the management of risks to make sure that all potential risks has the owner and the supervisors have the required authority to carry out suitable action (Matthews 2009). Risk analysis The analysis phase entails an evaluation of the likelihood of risks as well as the analysis of the possible impact. Tolerances for each and every risk requires to be agreed on and standard information from other similar organizations is supposed to be made use of in order to get any important information regarding risk management planning process. Various incidents should be considered in every area of the organizational concern (Matthews 2009). Objectives To investigate the various Risk management plans at Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service. To find out how Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service carries out Risk management planning. To find out if Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s risk management plans are well known and if they have been effectively tested. Literature review Risk management planning process is the field that deals with risk and ways in which risks can be avoided or how their probability of taking place can be reduced. It is an area that involves preparation for a disaster before it happens, disaster response, for example evacuation and supporting and reconstructing society after the disaster has taken place. Generally, risk management planning is the constant process by which people, organizations and communities manage hazards in order to avoid or reduce the impact of the catastrophes that result from the hazards. Successful risk management planning depends on through incorporation of emergency plans at all heights of management and non-management involvement. Activities at every level have an effect on the other levels (Moore 2006). Risk management planning should be comprehensive in that those managing the risks should consider all the hazards, the stages, all stakeholders in addition to all the impacts that are associated with the risks. It should also be progressive. The risk managers should predict future disasters and therefore establish preventive and preparatory measures in order to develop a disaster-resistant and disaster-resilient environment within the organization and community as well (Cote 2007). The risk management planning is supposed to be risk-driven. This means that the risk managers should utilize practical risk management standards which include; identification of the hazards, analyzing the risks and analysis of the risk impact while allocating priorities and resources. It should also be integrated in that there should be union of efforts at all heights of risk management and all aspects of a community. Moreover, risk management planning should be collaborative where risk managers should develop and maintain broad and open relationships among people and within organization in order to encourage teamwork and effective communication. The plan should also be coordinated and professional where those nagging the risk within an organization uphold a science and knowledge-based approach; the base being education, experience, skills, training and constant improvement (Cote 2007). Methodology Research Design This study will employ exploratory case study research design. This is because it allows the individual subjects under study to be investigated in. This will help identify and investigate resources available and how they can be of use to curb national emergency scenarios. Financial resources available are also to be looked at so as to know where and how it is allocated. On the other hand, human resource is also going to be studied in order to understand their value and belief system that determine their operation in terms of quality dedication in counter national emergencies. Qualitative research approach will be adopted whereby semi-structured questionnaires will be administered to the subjects under study. The interviews will be done by the fire emergency officials. Observation will be also be used to assess on, evaluate and analyze the available resources. This will be done using observation check lists Already Existing data will also be paramount use since it will also be used to add up on the data being currently recorded (Matthews 2009). Sampling Techniques and Sample Size Purposive sampling technique will be utilized to arrive at the individual subjects. Simple random sampling will be employed to arrive at a representative sample. To obtain a representative sample, the method of sample determination will be employed. That is, to determine the sample size for the entire population. n= [z2pq/d2] where; n- The desired sample size. z- Standard normal deviate at the required confidence interval (95 probability error equal to 1.96) p- The proportion of occurrence of the phenomenon (0.5 for unknown) q- The proportion of non-occurrence is (l-p) = 0.5 d- The level of statistical significance (0.05 for 95 percent level of significance) n= [(1.92)2(0.5) (0.5) / (0.05)2]1 The below formula is used in determining sample size when the population is less than 10,000 NF=n/1+ (n/N) Where NF is desired sample when population is less than 10,000 n is sample when the entire population is more than 10,000 N is the anticipated population of the region being studied. Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria The scope of study delimits itself to the community being served by Royal Berkshire Fire Service and Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service. Still, it covers both male and female subjects. Research Instruments Data will be obtained by use of self administered structured and semi-structured questionnaires. These will have questions on demographic characteristics and socio-economic information. Telephone and online interviews will also be used hand with call back cards to collect information on subjects that are not easy to access. Observation check lists will also be administered to collect data on through observation while the existing data will be used to add up more information on the data being collected. Pre-testing Pilot study will be carried out in a region with similar characteristics to the actual area under study. Pilot respondents will be randomly selected and questionnaires administered to respondents in order to test validity and reliability of the questionnaire for accuracy and precision. A total of 10 questionnaires will be used for the pre-test. Using the information from the, the questions will be moderated and others altered in order to get the desired information. The respondents will also be selected randomly for the pre-test. Data Collection Procedures Data will be collected by use of questionnaires that will be administered to the subjects to respond to. This will be carried out with the help of trained research assistants. Still, interviews will be carried out to the fire emergency officials. Observation will be also be used to collect data on the available resources. This will be done using observation check lists Already Existing data will also be paramount use since it will also be used to add up on the data being currently recorded. Methods of Data Analysis Data obtained from fieldwork including questionnaires and interviews information will be entered in a computer spreadsheet. SPSS will used in analyzing quantitative data to generate frequencies, means, standard deviation and computation of inferential statistics. Ethical considerations Research permit will be sought from the relevant fire and rescue emergency authorities. Mutual agreement/ consent of the subjects will be sought by explaining the purpose of the study. Confidentiality will be maintained by ensuring no received information from the subjects under study is disclosed to unauthorized persons exempt to the team implementing the study. Only the required data will be collected and used for the purpose of the study (Matthews 2009). Time scale The project will take two months. It will start on 1st June 2010 and end on 31st July 2010. Bibliography Cote, E. A., 2007, Organizing for Fire and Rescue Services, Jones & Bartlett Publishers, New York. Loffler, J., 2009, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Springer, New York. Matthews, G., 2009, Disaster management in British libraries: project report with guidelines for library managers, British Library, Michigan. Moore, T., 2006, Tolley's handbook of disaster and emergency management, Butterworth-Heinemann, Rio de Janeiro. Read More