Centre for Integrated Emergency Management

The centre conducts research on how technology innovation can improve emergency preparedness and management. Bringing together researchers within information systems, computer science and social science, the centre explores how to effectively collect and integrate information from different sources to support decision-making in different stages of an emergency. CIEM’s aim is to contribute to societal resilience, by providing emergency stakeholders with improved technology and method support for secure and efficient operations.

SMS-based Real-time Data Collection for Evaluation of Situational Awareness and Common Operational Picture : Lessons Learned from A Field Exercise

2020

Managing complex multi-agency emergency operations requires that the key actors have a holistic, correct and dynamic situational awareness (SA) and that the involved actors establish a common operational picture (COP). Establishing SA and COP are key objectives in many multi-agency exercises, however, reported research shows limitations in existing methods and approaches for collecting the data required for evaluating this. By being able to capture near real-time information during different phases of the exercise we will be better positioned to identify what works well and what does not work in the process of establishing SA and COP. Our paper presents an example of real-time data collecti…

Project report : Methodology for terminology harmonisation

2020

A common understanding of language and concepts used is essential for any meaningful communication. For large rescue operations effective communication is crucial to save lives. Such operations can require cooperation among first responders from several sectors with a different understanding of terms and concepts. Redningshåndboka (the National Rescue handbook) provides a common glossary for use across all sectors for their communications in training and practice. However, today each sector maintains their own glossaries, acronyms and jargon, causing potential misunderstandings in joint operations. In this report we propose a way to apply the Norwegian Public Management Standard from the No…

Facilitating Collaboration

2017

This article explores the potential synergy between computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) and collaboration engineering (CE). Both areas pursue the goal of understanding how to manage interactions in collaborative groups to achieve shared understanding, reduce process losses, and improve performance. By analyzing the research in the two areas, the authors identify several topics where exchange of research findings would be of mutual benefit. For example, research on CE can inform collaboration script research on reducing learners' cognitive load, providing sufficient guidance on the use of tools, and specifying the instructor role during the collaborative learning process. Simila…

Exploring the Role of Informants in Interpretive Case Study Research in IS

2011

Interpretive case study research constitutes an important and increasing part of the information systems (IS) knowledge base (Walsham, 1993; Myers, 1997; Pare and Elam, 1997; Walsham, 2006). Interpretive case studies can be distinguished from positivist case study research (Benbasat et al., 1987; Lee, 1989; Dube and Pare, 2003) by the focus on close interaction between researcher and participants throughout the case study process, viewing the case members as active participants in the construction of the case narrative (Boland, 1985; Guba and Lincoln, 1989; Kvale, 2002). However, while the interpretivist perspective ascribes an active role to the case study informants, in practice the exten…

Factors in the global assimilation of collaborative information technologies: an exploratory investigation in five regions

2008

The diffusion of innovation theory is deployed to investigate the global assimilation of collaborative information technologies (CITs). Based on the concepts of IT acquisition and utilization, an assimilation framework is presented to highlight four states (limited, focused, lagging, and pervasive) that capture the assimilation of conferencing and groupware CITs. Data collected from 538 organizations in the United States, Australia, Hong Kong, Norway, and Switzerland are aggregated and analyzed to explore assimilation patterns and the influence of decision-making pattern, functional integration, promotion of collaboration, organization size, and IT function size on the assimilation of CITs.…

A Research Review on Building Information Modeling in Construction―An Area Ripe for IS Research

2012

Published version of article of an article in the journal: Communications of the Association for Information Systems. Also available from the publisher : http://http://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol31/iss1/10/ This article presents a review of the research on Building Information Modeling (BIM) in construction, with the aim of identifying areas in this domain where IS research can contribute. The concept of BIM comprises an infrastructure of IT tools supporting collaborative and integrated design, assembly, and operation of buildings. This integrated construction approach, with all stakeholders editing or retrieving information from commonly shared models, requires major changes to well-establis…

Establishing On-Line Corporate Training in Distributed, Synchronous eCollaboration: A Field Study

2010

Whereas technologies for eCollaboration are maturing, a need for learning eCollaboration in distributed organizations continues. This paper presents the experiences from establishing corporate training in distributed, synchronous eCollaboration. The training package was delivered solely on-line with synchronous interaction among the participants and the instructors. The study contributes to the scarce body of research on computer-supported collaborative learning in professional and corporate contexts. The reported experiences illustrate several challenges to establish corporate on-line training of eCollaboration: promotion of awareness of the benefits of learning eCollaboration, management …

Analyzing Stakeholder Diversity in G2G Efforts: Combining Descriptive Stakeholder Theory and Dialectic Process Theory

2008

Author's version of an article published in e-Service Journal, 6 (2), 3-23. Previous research indicates that the benefits of e-government initiatives are slower to realize than initially expected. This has partly been ascribed to the particularly complex settings of e-government projects, consisting of a variety of stakeholders promoting different and often conflicting objectives. Yet few studies have explicitly addressed the inherent challenges of this diversity. This study presents an analytical approach for investigating contradictory stakeholder interests by combining descriptive stakeholder theory and dialectic process theory. Descriptive stakeholder theory is concerned with why some s…

The Rhetoric and Relevance of IS Research Paradigms: Conceptual Foundations and Empirical Evidence

2006

This paper discusses the relevance of IS research with respect to the rhetoric associated with the three major IS research paradigms in use - positivism, constructivism/interpretivism and critical research. The conceptual discussion is framed in terms of the following dimensions: ontological, epistemological and methodological assumptions, relationship between theory and practice, and the role of the researcher in the research process. Based on this discussion, we propose a conceptual model to study the relationship between the espoused philosophical assumptions of researchers and the degree of relevance of researchers’ knowledge claims. This conceptual model was evaluated with data obtaine…

Co-design of a Virtual Training Tool with Emergency Management Stakeholders for Extreme Weather Response

2018

Emergency services usually prepare for the most frequent or predictable types of disasters, such as fires. However, preparation for complex, unpredictable disaster scenarios is infrequent, probably because of high resource demand and difficulty of covering dynamic training needs of multiple stakeholders. The use of serious game techniques as the core of simulated or virtual training tools opens for new ways of training and learning in emergency and crisis scenarios. However, the number of virtual training tools customized to specific disaster or crisis scenario that address needs of diverse user groups is limited. Existing tools are often tailored with a particular geographical setting and …

How is Building Information Modeling Influenced by Project Complexity?

2014

Virtual design and construction of buildings and architectural spaces require extensive collaboration among a diverse set of design professionals. The authors analyze e-collaboration performance in two construction projects of differing complexity, to gain an understanding of how collaborative design based on building information modeling (BIM) is influenced by the complexity of the building project. The findings suggest that the perceived business value of BIM depends on project complexity and that BIM-based collaboration does not yield unconditional positive implications for all types of construction projects. The authors argue that current practice would benefit from a more structured ap…

On the rhetoric and relevance of IS research paradigms: a conceptual framework and some propositions

2003

This paper discusses the relevance of IS research with respect to the rhetoric associated with three IS research paradigms in use - positivism, constructivism/interpretivism and critical research. The discussion is framed in terms of the following dimensions: ontological, epistemological and methodological assumptions, relationship between theory and practice, and the role of the researcher in the research process. Based on this discussion, the authors propose a theoretical framework to study the relationship of the espoused assumptions of a researcher's perspective with the degree of relevance of their knowledge claims to various stakeholders. In conclusion, some key propositions are eluci…

Using Audio-Logs for Analyzing the Development of a Common Operational Picture in Multi-agency Emergency Response

2020

Multi-agency emergency response requires effective communication and collaboration for building and maintaining a common operational picture. Full-scale exercises are shown to be effective for learning, and for training the collaborative skills needed. This paper presents a methodology for analysis of real-time communication for building the common operational picture, using audio-logs. The analysis of the audio-logs provides insights for both practitioners and researchers in the emergency management domain concerning the dynamics of inter-agency collaboration and information exchanges when responding to emergencies. Coding and categorizing of audio-log-based information exchanges among mul…

The Role of Mediators in Transforming and Translating Information Quality: A Case of Quality Assurance in a Norwegian Hospital Trust

2019

Enterprise content management: An integrated perspective on information management

2005

Konferansebidrag fra 38th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, 2005. HICSS 2005 Enterprise Content Management (ECM) is an emerging concept involving numerous software vendors, consultants, and information management practitioners around increasing market potential. However, there exist yet few academic reports on ECM from the viewpoint of organizational system implementations. This article analyses 58, mainly practitioner-oriented, case narratives of ECM projects and implementations to identify a framework of major issues that require managerial attention in organizations. The main areas covered by the framework are: objectives/impacts sought with ECM, enterprise model…

A Review of Building Information Modelling for Construction in Developing Countries

2016

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is wide ly seen as a catalyst for innovation and productivity in the construction industry. BIM can assist a more sustainable construction process that in turn may contribute to eradicating poverty in developing c ountries (Un ited Nation Millennium Goals). While BIM is increasingly be ing adopted in developed coun tries, implementations in the developing country context are rare. Research has establishe d how construction firms struggle from several limitations having to do with the socio - economic and technological environment found in developing countries. Examples of issues preventing BIM adoption include a shortage of IT - literate personnel as wel…

Effective digital collaboration in the construction industry – A case study of BIM deployment in a hospital construction project

2015

We examine a case of successful integrated BIM-based design in a construction project.We present a set of key factors influential to enable digital collaboration in this project.Key factors identified include: change agents, new roles, cloud computing, contracts, etc.We found integrated design to depend upon changing traditional work practices.The case is an example of BIM implementation and collaborative work in the AEC industry. Building information modeling (BIM) and related digital innovations can serve as a catalyst for more transparency, tighter integration, and increased productivity in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. Yet, many project teams struggle with ho…

Succeeding with Building Information Modeling: A Case Study of BIM Diffusion in a Healthcare Construction Project

2014

Technological innovations such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) offer opportunities to improve collaborative work and integration in the architecture, engineering and construction industry. However, research to date has documented how many organizations struggle with how to work based on this new technology, and many implementations fail. In this paper we present a case study of a major healthcare construction project in which the use of BIM was paramount, and where designers claim to have succeeded in integrated design. The designers organized their digital collaboration by establishing 1) change agents; 2) a cloud computing infrastructure; 3) new roles and responsibilities; 4) BIM c…

A Cross-Regional Exploration of Barriers to the Adoption and Use of Electronic Meeting Systems

2007

Originally published in the journal Group Decision and Negotiation: http://www.springerlink.com/content/100270/ Electronic Meeting Systems (EMS) are intended to support group collaboration in completing tasks. While there have been many case studies and laboratory experiments on how EMS can support group tasks, large scale macro investigations exploring EMS adoption and use have been practically non-existent. Furthermore, while several barriers to EMS adoption and use have been suggested, their validation across organizations remains unexplored. We undertook a global initiative to explore information technology support for task-oriented collaboration in the US, Australia, Hong Kong, and Nor…

Serious games as a virtual training ground for relocation to a new healthcare facility

2016

Purpose This paper aims to enquire into how building information modelling (BIM) and gaming can be integrated to support professionals in their learning about the spatial layout of a new building. This knowledge is important to prepare building operation and facilities management (FM). Design/methodology/approach Ingrained in task–technology fit theory, this paper reports from a case study of a serious game staged in the graphical environment of a building information model. A series of interviews with the client, subject-matter experts and software developers involved in developing the game were conducted. The industrial setting for the study is a major hospital construction project in No…

Towards an integrated approach to emergency management: interdisciplinary challenges for research and practice

2015

This article presents an interdisciplinary vision for large-scale integrated emergency management that has been inspired by the transition from platform centric to integrated operations in the oil and gas fields, which uses remote emergency control centres collaborating virtually with local responders. The article discusses some of the most salient research challenges for integrated emergency management, including the role of mobile technology, human-centred sensing, citizen participation and social media, and the socio-cultural determinants of disaster management. The purpose of this article is to frame an integrated emergency management approach that adopts a multi-disciplinary approach, …

Social Affordances for People with Lifelong Disability through Using Virtual Worlds

2013

In the information age, information and communication technology (ICT) is an asset for supporting people with disability to participate and be included in society. Research indicates that virtual worlds may help this group to gain independence and improve social participation. The aim of the present research was to explore the role that virtual worlds play in facilitating people with disability to experience a self-perceived improvement of social participation, independence and well-being. Using qualitative methods our results indicate that people with lifelong disability perceive that they reach a larger and more diverse network through the use of virtual worlds. Based on identified Qualit…

Identifying reasons for ERP system customization in SMEs: a multiple case study

2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate possible reasons for enterprise resource planning (ERP) system customization in small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), with a particular focus on distinguishing influential factors of the SME context.Design/methodology/approachAn exploratory qualitative research approach was employed, to identify new insights within the SME context. A multiple case study of four SMEs was conducted. Data were collected through 34 qualitative interviews with multiple informants across the four cases.FindingsThe paper reports findings from four SMEs where ERP customization has been applied to match organizational needs. First, the level and type of ERP sys…

The Significance of Member Validation in Qualitative Analysis: Experiences from a Longitudinal Case Study

2007

This article explores the concept of member validation and its potential role in the process of constructing case descriptions and interpretations in qualitative research. Although generally approved as a required step in qualitative inquiry, the format, conduct, and purpose of this vary significantly according to different research perspectives. The paper discusses methodological and validity aspects of member validation, and illustrates these issues with experiences from member validation in a longitudinal, interpretive case study in an airline company. A definition of analytical abstraction as including three steps, referred to in the methodology literature as the "ladder of abstraction"…

The wheel of collaboration tools

2006

Paper from the 2006 20th anniversary conference on Computer supported cooperative work We present a holistic framework for analyzing and specifying collaboration solutions, developed by an oil and gas company in response to practical needs in supporting integrated collaboration and information management. A typology of collaboration tool capabilities, termed the Wheel of Collaboration Tools (WCT), is described. We assess its contributions, and discuss areas of application and potential further development. Our intent is to stimulate discussion and research related to this type of collaboration modeling.

From common operational picture to common situational understanding: An analysis based on practitioner perspectives

2021

Abstract The concepts of Situational Awareness (SA) and Common Operational Picture (COP) are closely related and well-acknowledged to be crucial factors for effective emergency management. In multi-agency operations, such as extreme weather events, the involved first responders manage the event with different mandates, objectives, and tools which can make it challenging to build a COP. Effective collaboration requires a common situational understanding, based on knowledge about each other’s responsibilities and tasks, mutual respect and trust, as well as common communication tools for emergency communication and information sharing. This paper argues that the COP serves as a basis for decid…

Process and technology challenges in swift-starting virtual teams

2007

Originally published in the journal Information & Management : http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03787206 Virtual teams often face tight schedules and a need to start quickly and perform instantly. The goal of our study was to enhance understanding of the challenges faced by such teams. We used time–interaction–performance theory as the framework for following the processes and functions within virtual teams working on a systems development task. Our study provided a detailed examination of the group process, applied to virtual teams working under time pressure. The challenges faced by virtual teams in such settings showed that teams must work to enhance their effectiveness in mu…

Levels of Adoption in Organizational Implementation of E-Collaboration Technologies

2008

While the e-collaboration term only dates back a few years, its roots can be traced back at least two decades to the research and development in areas such as groupware, computer supported cooperative work (CSCW), group support systems (GSS), and computer-mediated communication (CMC). As defined by Kock (2005), the e-collaboration term can be seen to encompass a wide range of technologies supporting collaboration among indivduals engaged in a common task. In this article, the e-collaboration term thus incorporates previous research and practice within the areas mentioned above. The term organizational implementation is used to denote the process of introducing the technology in an organizat…

ERP system implementation in SMEs: exploring the influences of the SME context

2012

Small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs are increasingly implementing enterprise resource planning ERP systems. Compared to large enterprises, SMEs differ in a number of inherent characteristics, which are likely to impact the ERP system implementations. The purpose of this study is to explore these influences of the SME context on the ERP system implementation process. SME characteristics are synthesised from relevant literature and the influences of the contextual factors on various activities across the ERP life cycle are investigated. The study presents findings from a multiple case study of four SMEs. The ownership type of the companies and limited resources were identified as the most…

Information quality life cycle in secondary use of EHR data

2021

Abstract The paper argues that existing research on information quality (IQ) mainly focuses on the primary use of electronic health record (EHR) data, whereas IQ in secondary use of EHR data needs further deliberation. The current view of IQ in a healthcare context is static. It assumes that once the EHR system generates the information product, individual users may act on the information based on their subjective perception of its quality. However, this view ignores the complexities of secondary use of EHR data, in which users are actively involved in (re)generating and communicating the information product. Thus, IQ does not remain static but keeps on transforming through active engagemen…

Diffusing Crisis Management Solutions through Living Labs: Opportunities and Challenges

2016

Despite increasing focus on user involvement among the developers of crisis management technologies, the diffusion of these solutions in target user communities is slow. This paper discusses to what extent the Living Lab approach, based on open innovation and co-creation between users and developers, could facilitate the diffusion of crisis management solutions. Our analysis shows correspondence between the core principles of the Living Labs approach and the user interaction focus in development research in ISCRAM. However, the task urgency and criticality of crisis situations limits the possibility for testing and experimenting with technology in real use situations. Instead, the main dist…

Supporting Inter-Agency Collaboration in Emergency Management: Recurring Challenges Relevant for CSCW

2023

Emergency management requires effective collaboration between different agencies. This work implies several challenges due to a heterogeneous mix of actors with different procedures, practices, and support tools. Despite being focused in various research streams, emergency responders still report challenges with sharing information and establishing shared situational awareness in responding to complex events. The paper presents results from a large-scale digital tabletop exercise that illustrate recurring challenges related to support for collaborative procedures, a communication network structure combining several media, use of geocollaborative tools, and configuration of collaborative env…

Map-based interfaces for common operational picture

2020

Common operationalpicture (COP) map-based interfacesdisplay operational information to support integrationofemergency responders. Such interfacesintegrate different subsystems and present the resulting information into an overview for enabling situation awareness. Literature shows that they are often developed from non-user-centric perspectives and are defined in technological terms that arenot adequately capturing the users’ needs. Therefore,theaim of this particular work in progressis to get insight into the features and the role of COP map-based interfaces currently being used in Norway to (1) examine theircontent, functionality, and design;and(2) to understand how such displays are inco…

Agile Knowledge Networking - A novel approach to research collaboration between industry and academia

2015

- The paper presents a novel approach to interaction between industry and academia, in the form of a knowledge networking program as implemented by a telecommunications company. Compared to traditional in-house R&D, this program represents an agile and “lightweight” approach to getting access to scientific knowledge supporting the company’s quest for disruptive innovations. Supported by a team of student trainees, the program facilitates interaction with a large number of top academic scholars worldwide. The paper reports experiences and lessons learned from the program so far, and discusses areas of further improvement in terms of managing the collaborative R&D process and cultivating the …

Sharing Incident and Threat Information for Common Situational Understanding

2019

This paper presents the INSITU research project initiated to provide a systematic approach for effective sharing, integration and use of information from different sources, to establish a common operational picture (COP) and shared situational understanding among multiple actors in emergency response. The solution developed will provide an interactive map display, integrating harmonisation of terminology and collaboration support for information sharing and synthesis. The enhanced COP will also support evaluation and learning from exercises and incidents. The project involves close collaboration with emergency management stakeholders in Norway, for requirements analysis, participatory desig…

Turning Common Operational Picture Data into Double-loop Learning from Crises – can Vision Meet Reality?

2021

Norwegian Research Council Grant #295848

Project report: Requirements specification

2020

The SAMRISK project “Sharing incident and threat information for common situational understanding“ (INSITU) commenced in May 2019. The INSITU project develops solutions for establishing a common situational understanding in complex operations requiring collaboration between several agencies. This involves systematic analysis of existing information sources and defining the information elements that are critical to share in different phases of a crisis situation. In addition, the project will develop procedures and related tool support for efficient collection and integration of information. As part of this work, the project contributes to harmonisation of terminology across agencies to secu…

Project report : Evaluering av INSITU skogbrannøvelse

2021

Rapporten presenterer resultater fra evaluering av en digital tabletop-øvelse arrangert av INSITU-prosjektet i april 2021, der scenarioet omfattet 3 samtidige skogbranner i Agder. Hensikt med øvelsen var å gi erfaring med hvordan situasjonsbilde kan deles fra innsatsleder til sentrale myndigheter med bruk av felles digital kartstøtte. Øvelsen involverte ca. 70 deltagere fra 20 etater og organisasjoner, i tillegg til prosjektgruppen fra INSITU.

The Land of Confusion – Clearing up some common misunderstandings of interpretive research

2016

Qualitative research approaches are now well established in information systems research, and are given equal weight as quantitative research in research methods courses in graduate programs. Similar, the heated paradigm debate seems to largely have cooled off, with interpretivist research now being accepted as an alternative to positivism and other paradigms. However, from the authors’ experience with teaching qualitative methods and reviewing qualitative research work, we see a growing tendency among both students and more experienced researchers to view qualitative and interpretive research as synonyms. We argue that this to some extent is due to a lack of precision in how the interpreti…

How to frame your contribution to knowledge? A guide for junior researchers in information systems

2016

Master students and junior researchers within the Information Systems (IS) field often struggle to frame their knowledge contributions when reporting their research. In this paper, we investigated this research question: what are the forms of knowledge contributions that can be targeted in information systems research? We analysed a selection of NOKOBIT papers that were written by junior researchers, with their previous masters or PhD supervisors as co-authors. As expected, we found that all papers followed the same script of identifying a research gap and trying to fill it. While the practical contributions often can be acknowledged, the theoretical contribution can be more difficult to id…