Prioritizing Humanitarian Assistance in a Complex Emergency: A Decision Method for Military Forces

Abstract

The article develops a decision support model for a military commander who has to determine what humanitarian assistance will be provided in cooperation with which civil organizations in peacekeeping situations. After an investigation of the current methods decision theory was used to develop an initial decision method, consisting of consecutive steps to inventory potential humanitarian tasks, to identify attributes to evaluate these tasks, and to actually prioritize the selected tasks using an extensive scorecard. The initial decision method and its tools were reviewed in-depth in a series of expert interviews, resulting in an improved decision method.

Managing military involvement in emergency preparedness in developed countries

“…Gustafson (2010); and (Yoho et al, 2013) highlight one security challenge in terms of the blurred line between criminal and terrorist actions. However, more analysis is needed if emergency policies are to include greater military involvement (Rietjens & Voordijk, 2004) if it involves ethical implication. Thus, individual nations cannot identify one common ethical solution to their threats (i.e., when civil authorities, NGOs, and the military are coordinating to formulate political or economic solutions); instead, nations may need to coordinate their involvement in international safety and security operations (Boin and McConnell, 2007).…”

“…Gustafson (2010) and (Yoho et al, 2013) highlight one security challenge in terms of the blurred line between criminal and terrorist actions. However, more analysis is needed if emergency policies are to include greater military involvement (Rietjens et al, 2004) if the latter involves ethical implications. Thus, individual nations cannot identify one common ethical solution to their threats (i.e.…”

Civil-Military Cooperation in Response to a Complex Emergency

“…Although restricted by strategic and operational boundaries (e.g., NATO cimic doctrine AJP-09 (NATO, 2003)) these decisions are often based on the commander's own insights and experience and the advice of his staff officers. To facilitate this decision Rietjens et al (2004) have developed a decision method. Based on military and civil attributes this method enables the commander to prioritise using an extensive scorecard.…”

“…Flexibility (Child and Faulkner, 1998;Das and Teng, 1997;Doz, 1996;Faulkner, 1995;Mulyowahyudi, 2001) Strategic fit (Child and Faulkner, 1998;Douma, 1997;Hoffman and Schlosser, 2001;Lorange and Roos, 1992;Mulyowahyudi, 2001) Trust (Child and Faulkner, 1998;Das and Teng, 1997;Doz, 1996;Faulkner, 1995;Hoffman and Schlosser, 2001;Kanter, 1994;Klein Woolthuis, 1999;Larson, 1992;Lewis, 1990) The working paper "Co-operative arrangements for civil-military co-operation" (Rietjens, 2003) provides a detailed description of these factors.…”

“…It is therefore most likely that theories on cooperative arrangements can contribute to answering the research questions. A Working paper entitled "Co-operative arrangements for civil-military co-operation" (Rietjens, 2003) addressed the literature study on cooperative arrangements and included theories on strategic alliances, networks and public private partnerships. The second stage of the research approach consists of the development of the process model.…”