Use of the Structured Interview Matrix to Enhance Community Resilience Through Collaboration and Inclusive Engagement

Abstract

The EnRiCH Project was formed to address challenges with disaster management for high risk populations. The theoretical foundation is based on salutogenesis, systems theory and community resilience, with emphasis on community assets, social capital, citizen participation, and collaborative practice, which support adaptive capacity to respond and recover from adverse events. We present results from the process evaluation of the use of the structured interview matrix (SIM) facilitation technique as a first step in asset-mapping for a community resilience intervention. Nine SIM sessions were conducted across five geographic communities (n = 143) with professionals and volunteers from emergency management, health and social services, community organisations and citizens who represent high risk populations. Open-ended questionnaires were completed by (n = 139) participants to document experiences of partaking in the session. Content analysis suggests that the SIM is an effective technique to enhance connectedness, common ground, collaborative action, and awareness of existing services and supports in each community.

Promoting Resilience Using an Asset-Based Approach to Business Continuity Planning

“…As a method for qualitative research, it enables generation of rich data from a large sample of people (up to 40), while promoting inclusion and reducing power differentials. A process evaluation of this method by our team showed it enhances awareness and stimulates solution-oriented thinking among participants (O'Sullivan et al, 2015). All of these features of the SIM method align with principles of a CBPR approach (Israel, Eng, Schulz, & Parker, 2013).…”

“…In doing so, individuals and organizations can more effectively use their assets in a sustainable way, compared with the deficits approach (McLean, 2011). This understanding and generation of creative solutions was experienced by participants in the EnRiCH intervention, who reported enhanced awareness and motivation to act after participating in a community asset-mapping intervention (O'Sullivan et al, 2015).…”

“…Each participant was asked to attend one focus group, which was facilitated using the Structured Interview Matrix (SIM) technique (O'Sullivan et al, 2015). The SIM technique is a method used in different research contexts, to promote engagement during consultation sessions.…”

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“…As can be seen from Table 1, the Structured Interview Matrix (SIM) fulfills these requirements and, therefore, was selected to structure the discussions. The SIM sessions were conducted according to the methodology outlined in O'Sullivan and Kuziemsky [23] and O'Sullivan and Corneil [24]. Although this method has previously been used mostly for community asset mapping, in this study SIM was used as a technique to facilitate discussions between several groups of experts and to elicit knowledge from them.…”

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“…Simply calling for 'openness' within an organization does not make it so, particularly when subordinates feel psychologically unsafe in speaking their minds in the presence of their bosses (Bushe & Marshak, 2009). More recently, Bushe and Marshak (2015) identified 40 dialogic organizational development methods that help to create psychological safety and authentic dialogue, such as Open Space Technology (Owen, 2008), Interview Matrix (Harrison, 1999;Chartier, 2002;O'Sullivan, Corneil, Kuziemsky, & Toal-Sullivan, 2015), and World Café (Brown & Isaacs, 2005). In part, these approaches involve learning new ways to communicate, or 'think together,' including "suspending" one's initial reaction to what someone says, considering alternative explanations, and reflecting on one's own reactions, rather than blurting out knee-jerk response (Isaacs, 1999, p. 134-58).…”