PhD poster session: Utilizing ICT Governance Methods to improve Disaster Preparedness and Disaster Response

1. ICT Governance & Disaster Management
Marcus Vogt
Bond University, QLD Australia
Introduction Methods / Deliverables Political Organisational
Communication and information processes • Analysis of the acceptance / awareness of ICT Pressures Needs
are playing an essential role in Disaster Governance frameworks and tools in institutions
Management. “Translation-Layer”
that are involved in disaster control and emergency
management. Comparisons between Australian and
Accurate information at the right time and
at the right place can save lives. Nowadays, European organizations will be made.
Information and Communication • Analysis of damage and threat scenarios,
Technology (ICT) can significantly lower
particularly communication and information
processing times between involved parties
and increase information richness and channels including the used technologies, by the
reach. means of ICT Governance tools and frameworks. Communication Process
(Qualitative and quantitative methods, particularly
FIG.2: Transforming ICT Governance
However, the used technology has to be narrative interviews with stakeholders of
reliable, appropriate and usable otherwise Frameworks and implement a “Translation-
participating institutions (Australian & European) as
technology is more a hindrance than an well as analyses of internal documents e.g. Layer” for better acceptance and application of
improvement. Major failures of important documentation of emergency drills) FIG. 1 ICT in Disaster Management (AS8015 2005)
infrastructure systems, caused accidentally,
• Highlighting the limits of ICT Governance
by intent or by an act of nature beyond
control can result in serious consequences frameworks and tools in Disaster Management.
Preliminary Results
for the population. (Barton 2007, Borodzicz Suggestions for improvement. (Review of literature Current literature review has shown that there is
2005) minimal research done in the area of ICT Governance
and case studies)
in relation to Disaster Management. Van Den Eede
ICT Governance methods and frameworks • Comparison of different scenarios by the means of and Van de Walle (2005) were the first authors who
are proven tools to manage ICT in serious game method to demonstrate effectiveness investigated the effects and benefits of ICT
commercially driven organizations. Clear Governance Methods for Information Systems for
of ICT Governance methods in disaster
responsibilities, optimized ICT portfolios,
preparedness and disaster response. (A serious game Crisis Response and Management (ISCRAMs).
strategic alignment, transparent risk
assessment, maturity models and managed will be developed by the means of appropriate Marich et al. (2008) examined the inter-organizational
services are the key factors for a successful software. The test teams will have to solve random ICT Governance structure by the means of a case
and effective ICT implementation to emergency scenarios with and without the help of study performed at a Medical Emergency Service
support and promote different business the developed ICT Governance framework to show Agency in California. Both references are showing the
models. the limits and benefits of managed ICT services) capability of ICT Governance. Particularly
communication and information processes show high
Frameworks such as COBIT, ITIL, CMMI, • Utilizing the Needs Driven Approach (NDA) to potential for improvement (Dilmaghani & Rao 2009).
Val-IT, ISO27000, ISO20000 and ISO develop optimised To-Be processes for
38500 provide such implementation communication and information in particular Preliminary interviews with a critical infrastructure
guidelines and best practices. However, provider (power supplier), city governments,
scenarios (Krcmar & Schwabe 1996).
most of these guidelines and best practices emergency response organisations (Red Cross, Air
are optimized for commercially driven  Design of an optimized ICT management Rescue) have shown that ICT Governance tools are
organizations. framework towards the needs of Disaster either completely unknown or their potential towards
Management by adaption of standard ICT- Disaster Management has not been taken into account.
General Research Question: Governance tools. Development of an adjusted It also became clear that numerous “decision makers”
“How can existing ICT Governance
“Translation-Layer” (FIG. 2) between technology do not trust ICT-enabled processes because they
frameworks and methods be used,
and management, as well as an inter-organisational “can’t understand/estimate how reliable a service is”.
adapted and improved to meet the
maturity model to enhance reliability of information Thus an adapted management layer for ICT is needed.
general requirements of Disaster
Management and therefore optimize its and communication processes. (FIG. 1)
Therefore, it is planned in cooperation with some
communication and information
interviewees to look further into the capabilities of
processes”
ICT Governance in regard to their disaster processes.
The planned PhD thesis will investigate and
demonstrate the usability and limits of ICT Conclusion
Governance tools to improve information ICT Governance is a powerful tool and has proven its
flow and communication processes in potential in commercial organizations. Preliminary
Disaster Management. results show similar capabilities in Disaster
Management and thus more research is needed.
The major goal is to provide an adapted and Bibliography
improved framework for optimized ICT AS8015, 2005, Australian Standard for Corporate Governance of Information and Communication Technology, Standards Australia
Barton, L., 2007, Crisis leadership now: A real-world guide to preparing for threats, disaster, sabotage, and scandal. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
management in crisis and disaster-related Borodzicz, E., 2005, Risk, Crisis and Security Management. West Sussex, England: John Wiley and Sons Ltd.
Dilmaghani, R. B., Rao, R. R., 2009, A Systematic Approach to Improve Communication for Emergency Response, Proceedings of the 42nd Hawaii
’ International Conference on System Sciences – 2009, ISBN: 978-0-7695-3450-3/09
processes and therefore improve overall Marich, M. J., Horan, T. A., Schooly, B. L., Understanding IT Governance within the San Mateo County Emergency Medical Service Agency, Proceedings of the 5th
International ISCRAM Conference 2008, (F. Fiedrich and B. Van de Wall, eds), Washington, DC, USA
disaster preparedness and disaster response. FIG.1: ICT in Disaster Management (NetDraw) Schwabe, G., Krcmar, H., 1996, Needs Driven Approach (NDA), Proceedings of the DCSCW 1996. Springer, Heidelberg et al., 69-88
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