Information sharing and interoperability: the case of major incident management

Abstract

Public sector inter-organisational information sharing and interoperability is an area of increasing concern and intense investment for practice and an area of increasing scholarship. This paper focuses on one particular set of public sector organisations (emergency services) and illuminates the key technological and organisational issues they face concerning information sharing and interoperability. The particular contexts in which these are studied are ones where decisions are non-trivial and made in high-velocity environments. In these conditions the problems and significance of inter-organisational information sharing and interoperability are accentuated. We analyse data gathered from two studies: the first focused on ‘first responders’ (police, fire and ambulance services) in the United Kingdom. The second, a follow on study, with emergency service managers and interoperability project managers in the United Kingdom and the European Union. Using activity theory as a conceptual framework we describe the informational problems critical emergency responders face in their initial response to, and management of, an incident. We argue that rather than focusing on interoperability as a primarily technological issue it should be managed as an organisational and informational issue. Second, we argue that rather than designing for anomalous situations we should design systems, which will function during both anomalous and routine situations. Third, we argue for focus on harmonisation of policies, procedures and working practices.

Keywords:

• inter-organisational information systems
• information sharing
• activity theory
• emergency response

Acknowledgements

The views expressed in this research are the result of two research projects: The first (Project MAIS) was supported by a number of partners including: Emergency Planning College, Norfolk Fire Service, London Ambulance Service, The Scottish Executive, West Yorkshire Police, The Department of Communities and Local Government, The London Borough of Greenwich and Lancashire Constabulary. The second was undertaken on behalf of the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) Multi-Agency Interoperability Programme. The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the authors and should not be taken to reflect the judgement, understanding or opinions of any of the partners. We would like to thank Richard Baskerville and the anonymous reviewers for their support in developing the paper and Michael Hallowes, Ex-Head of the Strategic Operations Unit, Director of the Multi-Agency Interoperability Programme at the NPIA and currently Emergency Services Commissioner, Victoria Department of Justice for his insightful comments. We would also like to acknowledge the work of the researchers who contributed to the projects: Dr. Nurain Ibrahim and Dr. Charles Knight

Notes

1 Titles/positions/agencies are not revealed in the data analysis as the research took place under a non-disclosure agreement.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

David K Allen

About the Authors

David Allen is Director of the AIMTech Research group. His work spans both the information systems and information science communities focusing on the way new technologies, especially mobile technologies influence information behaviour and practices. His work illuminates the significance of understanding information behaviour in the design, innovation, implementation and use of systems.

Stan Karanasios

Stan Karanasios is a Research Fellow working in the AIMTech Research Group. He completed his Ph.D. at Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia. His research and consultancy work covers evaluation and monitoring, project implementation, disaster response/emergency services and information management.

Alistair Norman

Alistair Norman is a Lecturer in Leeds University Business School and Programmes Manager for the AIMTech Research Group. His research focuses on the concept of mobility and the effects it has on the way that those equipped with mobile technologies undertake and manage their work.