Even after four arduous years, it feels like the research journey that started with the aspiration of making a difference in the field of interest has barely scratched the surface. While this expedition carries on, I owe a big debt of gratitude to those travel companions without whom reaching this far was almost impossible.My first companion in this journey was none other than Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Included in the incalculable bounties is HIS support when others abandoned me, HIS guidance when I felt lost, and HIS kindness in creating opportunities when I needed them the most. In short and in all humbleness, I would like to thank Allah for giving me the ability, courage, endurance, and patience to complete this research and write this thesis from the first page to the last.Next in this research journey is the companionship of two fine peoplea team of extraordinary scholars and even better humans who supervised me during this research. I am sincerely grateful to Professor Mark Johnson and Professor S John Lyon for giving me the opportunity to learn from them.Mark's influence on my research cannot be overstated. It has been a fascinating journey to learn from him and explore the provocative and insightful nature of his work. Mark's mixture of a serious and professional style when needed with an informal and sociable approach when allowed for has made my time as his student highly instructive and enjoyable. During our discussions, Mark always found a way to generously share his knowledge, opportunities, and to instil that extra bit of confidence in me to do bettersomething I am especially appreciative of. Besides his scholarly guidance, we spent a great deal of time enjoying President Trump's tweets, making sense of Prime Minister Johnson's bewildering public briefings, and competing who builds the 2700piece Lego replica of Porsche 911 GT3 RS quicker. Mark, I'm grateful to you for everything.
Research QuestionThe aim of this study is to not only advance collective sensemaking discussions by providing useful insights into the factor(s) that tend to weaken such activities, but to also find pragmatic ways in which those factor(s) can be managed so shared understandings in highly intense moments such as crisis can be developed for better planning and action. Thus, the research question is:RQ: What information-sharing challenges do emergency response teams face, and how can these be overcome to facilitate collective sensemaking in times of crisis?This research question acknowledges that sharing of information is a key component of group sensemaking. However, when information-sharing or communication issues erupt within and among groups, their abilities to develop common understanding is severely limited. This limitation can cause all sorts of problems for those involved in managing crises and may lead to flawed, delayed, or even a breakdown in collective sensemaking activities. Thus, it is essential to first recognize what kind of information-sharing issues commonly occur and which techniques can s...