Community Risk and Political Concerns of the Fire Industry Strategic - Assignment Example

 Community Risk and Political Concerns of the Fire Industry Strategic Introduction The role of the fire and emergency industry is one that cannot be underestimated in any way if community and national development can be achieved. This situation is particularly valid given the rate at which industrialized and other forms of infrastructural developments are taking place. Comparatively, Ellemor and Jon (2005) noted that the rate at which new constructions are taking place for office, domestic and commercial use have increased in fourfold compared to four decades back. Meanwhile, as such human activity advance, the risk of fire and other emergencies also go up (Hite, 2003). It is for this reason that there is the need for prompt and up-to-date approach to dealing with emergency and fire situations in the community. By up-to-date, reference is being made to a type of fire and emergency role that has changed to embrace the dynamics of modernity and modern demands. This paper has therefore been written to critically analyze how the role of emergency service manages have changed over the years. The question of current fire and emergency needs of society has therefore been addressed. The analysis will be undertaken in relation to how urgent it is for today’s emergency service managers to take advantage of some opportunities that have been presented in the industry. There will also be focus on challenges that are faced in trying to meet the needs of changing society. Then also, the kind of skills and knowledge needed by the managers to be effective in their role shall also be assessed. Current Changes in Society affecting Roles of Emergency Service Managers There are several sophisticated changes that can be associated with modern society that creates changes in the role of the emergency service manager. The first of these changes has to do with the increasing number of natural disasters that are recorded by the day. Comfort (2003) indicated that places all around the world are recording high numbers of natural disasters by the day. In such cases, the expertise of the emergency and fire service is called to duty. There has also been a modern form of change in society where the activities of terrorists have really become sophisticated and abundant. All over the world, there are several examples of terrorist attacks that can be given as example of this situation. As the days go by, these terrorist attacks happen both domestically and internationally. But in whatever form that they take place, there is always a responsibility for the emergency and fire services department to put in place actions that ensure that they are able to save life and property. Last but not least, several human activities, most of which focus on construction have created much changes in the current society. There are skyscrapers that are being constructed, all of which call for the need for new and sophisticated equipment. Because of population increase and increases in the number of buildings, free flow of machinery, and emergency and fire vehicles have also become very restricted. All these are factors that have caused many changes to the roles that emergency service managers have to deal with (Birkland, 1999). Challenges in meeting current needs As the identified changes take place and change the phase and nature of the work of emergency and fire and service, there are also some challenges that make it difficult for industry players to function effectively in accordance with the changes. One of these key challenges has to do with a problem that Kirschenbaum (2004) described as an apathy towards the profession. In a recent study by the author noted that most people take up the emergency and fire work not because they have the passion or desire for it but because they see it to be their last resort to bridging the unemployment sufferance they are faced with. Because of this, human resource within the industry can hardly be described as one that is committed and dedicated towards their roles to society. In such situations, much of the difficult and challenge comes to rest on managers who must use every form of motivation to encourage their workers to work hard and give off their best. There is also the issue of lack of training and supervision within the industry. From every indication, there are major changes that have shaped the expectations and roles of the industry. However, Mileti (2005) lamented that there have not been an equal level of training and development programs that aim at bridging the gap that currently exists within the industry. Opportunities for meeting the Changes As much as the identified changes take place, Schneider (2004) also presents a new opinion that focuses on existing opportunities that can be taken by emergency service managers to meet the changes in their roles squarely. For some of these opportunities, Tierney (2005) indicated that the service has already grabbed the opportunity but there are some of them that the opportunities remain untapped. One of the key opportunities has to do with technological advancement, through which information system has become such a huge word in the industry. Today, there are accounts of various emergency and fire service departments that have put in place technology based emergency systems that makes it possible for them to achieve both efficiency and effectiveness. Efficiency is achieved because they are able to connect with the public more easily. Today, it is common that by the press of a button, a person will have access to the phone numbers of all fire service offices within a given geographic location and promptly communicate with them. The work has also become effective because through technology, the emergency and fire service corresponds with other services such as the police and traffic management to make the execution of their works much easier. One other opportunity that can briefly be touched on is the high level of understanding that seems to be taking place at the government level with reference to the need to making policies and monetary allocations to support the service (Mileti, 2005). New skills and knowledge needed for current and future needs There are several skills and knowledge needed by emergency and fire managers to meet current and future needs of society. As far as skills are concerned, there are so many important skills that are expected. For each of these skills, the main need for them is to ensure that managers become proactive with strategic planning in the industry. Some of these skills can be named as service orientation, complex problem solving skills, coordination, communication, critical thinking, judgment and decision making, learning skills, monitoring, social perceptiveness, time management, persuasion, negotiation, evaluation, and management of personal resources (My Majors, 2014). Even though these are skills that have always been required of managers, it is important that as the years go by society continues to become dynamic for emergency and fire needs, there will be a new paradigm towards possessing and utilizing these skills. In terms of knowledge, there are a number of important ones that can be mentioned, including knowledge public security and safety, law and government, administration and management, education and training, communication and media, customer and personnel service, telecommunications, geography, therapy and counseling and transportation (My Majors, 2014). Conclusion From the discussions above, it is very clear that the work of the emergency service manager has changed sharply and not as it used to be some years ago. This has been triggered by changes that have taken place in the larger social setting. The response that emergency service managers have taken so far can be said to be commendable as it has matched up most of the needs of modern society. These efforts notwithstanding, it is still important that a lot more be put in place to ensure that the growing demands can be matched up equally. Until now, there are several challenges that the service seem not to have adequately addressed. There are also some new skills and knowledge that industry players need to acquire as part of modern quest and changes of the social environment in which they operate. Once these gaps are bridged, there can be very high hopes that the modern emergency service manager will work in accordance with expected changes within the community. References Birkland, T. (1999). After Disaster: Agenda Setting, Public Policy, and Focusing Events. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press. Comfort, L. K. (2003). “Assessment of Homeland Security Initiatives: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.” Papers on the Role of the States in Homeland Security from the Working Group on Federalism Challenges, New York: Century Foundation. Ellemor, H. and Jon B. (2005). “National Security and Emergency Management after September 11.” International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters, 23: 5-26. Hite, M. (2003). “The Emergency Manager of the Future: Summary of a Workshop, June 13, 2003.” Washington, D.C.: National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council. Kirschenbaum, A. (2004). “Measuring the Effectiveness of Disaster Management Organizations.” International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters, 22:75-102. Mileti, D. S. (2005). “The Evolution of U.S. Emergency Management.” Pp. 7-10 in The Future of Emergency Management: Papers From the 2005 FEMA Emergency Management Higher Education Conference. Emmitsburg, MD: Federal Emergency Management Agency. My Majors (2014). Emergency Management Director Career. Retrieved June 2, 2014 from http://www.mymajors.com/career/emergency-management-directors/skills/ Schneider, R. O. (2004). “An Overview of the ‘New’ Emergency Management.” Journal of Emergency Management, 2: 25-28. Tierney, K. (2005). “The Red Pill.” Understanding Katrina: Perspectives From the Social Sciences, College Park, MD: University of Maryland, Social Science Research Center. Read More