Myopia during emergency improvisation: lessons from a catastrophic wildfire

Wang

2023

Behavioral Sciences

Improvisation is an effective way to cope with rapid changes and obtain unexpected opportunities in a complex environment. Based on the cognitive-affective system theory, this study investigates the dual mediating role of cognitive flexibility and emotional intelligence between shared leadership and improvisation and the moderating role of promotion focus. We used multilevel and multi-sourced data to test the theoretical model and used a social network approach to measure shared leadership in teams. Our sample was comprised of 40 teams and 240 team members. The empirical findings indicated that cognitive flexibility and emotional intelligence mediated the relationship between shared leadership and improvisation; promotion focus moderated the relationship between shared leadership and improvisation, and the mediation effect via cognitive flexibility. This study contributes to expanding on improvisation research from the perspective of shared leadership and incorporating both the cognitive and the emotional process of the generation of improvisation into a theoretical framework from a compound perspective, which will open the black box for the mediation mechanism from shared leadership to improvisation. Furthermore, promotion focus is introduced into the research and creatively corresponds to the cognition-affection mediation mechanism, which expands the applicable scope of the regulatory focus theory.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shared Leadership and Improvisation: Dual Perspective of Cognition-Affection

Wang

2023

Behavioral Sciences

Contingencies & Crisis Mgmt

“…In their most extreme forms, crisis events are labelled ‘cosmologic,’ where the structure of meaning and social relationships crumble, bringing chaos that needs to be organized (Weick, 1993; Weick et al, 2005). The accepted view of crises as extreme events is that they are tragic events whose unfolding is beyond the actors' reach, mainly because their actions during the incubation and response phases feed the event itself (Cunha et al, 2022; Gundel, 2005). Clément and Roux‐Dufort (2020) propose that the tragedy stems from actors engaging in a double temporality when two distinct times compete.…”

Section: Crises As Cosmologic and Cosmogonic Extreme Eventsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Actualizing novel trajectories: Chronological and kairotic improvisations

Fernandez,

Giordano,

Hällgren

2023

The role of first responders during extreme crisis events consists of improvising under time pressure to retain control of the unfolding situation and mitigate harmful effects to help organizations restore their ‘normal’ functioning. This pervasive view of crises as cosmologic events obscures their transformational dimension and their long‐term positive outcomes. In this article, we explore how actors respond to time pressure and vital stakes while identifying and actualizing a novel trajectory. They improvise to overcome limitations, create, and enact a desirable future to seize an opportunity that arises due to unexpected surprises. We argue that the actualization of novel trajectories relies on a combination of the enactment of a duplicate temporality that combines the chronological time‐pressure of the unfolding event and kairotic time, in which critical decisions and actions actualize the desired future. Our contributions to the crisis management literature are twofold. First, we conceptualize chronological and kairotic improvisation practices to acknowledge that crisis response is not only about acting quickly but also about doing the right thing at the right time. Second, we shed light on crises as ‘cosmologic’ events, showing that they can be a point of origin for long‐term positive outcomes. Finally, we advocate for a deeper and fine‐grained consideration of time and temporality to advance crisis management studies.

“…The mission of firefighters is to protect people and property in an operational environment in high-stress and complex situations where leadership and decision-making are two critical factors for achieving success. This is even more important during critical events, such as the South Canyon Fire in California [1], and the deadly fires of Pedrogão Grande in Portugal [2], where poor decision-making and leadership capacity contributed to the escalation of the disasters [3,4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship between Decision-Making Styles and Leadership Styles of Portuguese Fire Officers

Rouco,

Marques-Quinteiro,

Reis

et al. 2024

Fire

Numerous studies in management and leadership indicate that one’s decision-making style is reflective of one’s leadership style. In the context of civil protection and the fire service, the ability of the fire officers to adopt the best style of decision-making and leadership in each situation represents a critical factor of success. Therefore, the present study was designed to examine the relationship between decision-making and the leadership style of fire officers. For this study, a quantitative method was used, with the application of questionnaires with closed questions. A sample of 346 officers of Portuguese fire stations answered the questionnaire. Correlations between styles are consistent with findings from other studies. Decision-making styles directly influence the leadership styles adopted. Fire officers prioritize people and social concerns, involving teams in decision-making. Research shows positive correlations between participants’ roles, conceptual decision-making, and relation-focused leadership. Higher academic degrees are associated with relationship-focused leadership. Behavioral decision-making mediates the impact of education on leadership styles.