Importance of Presidential Leadership in Emergency Management
Kay C. Goss
November 23, 2016
With over 30 years working in emergency management – 12 years in a state governor’s office, almost
8 years at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as associate director in charge of national
preparedness, training, and exercises, and 11 years in the private sector at Electronic Data Systems and
Systems Research and Analysis International, it became apparent that presidential leadership has been
quite important at all levels and for all sectors.
Meta-Leadership 2.0: More Critical Than Ever
Leonard J. Marcus
November 23, 2016
Over the past decade, meta-leadership, a methodology developed at the National Preparedness
Leadership Initiative at Harvard, has become a widely adopted framework for leading in emergency
preparedness and response. Over that time, both the model and methods have advanced based on field
experience. This article presents the latest thinking and practice for those charged with public safety,
security, and resilience.
Data Accountability: Starting Over With a New Administration
Michael Jacoby
November 16, 2016
Over the next few months, precious time will be lost trying to quickly update newly elected
officials on key health and life safety issues that have been discussed for years among their
predecessors and the public. Only time will tell how the new occupants of the White House and Congress
embrace and address such issues and the long-term implications.
High-Consequence Decisions: What It Takes
Wendy D. Walsh
November 15, 2016
In September 2016, more than 30 people gathered at the Harvard Faculty club to discuss topics related to leadership and the decision-making process. Most in the room had been faced with making critical life-and-death decisions at some point in their careers, and some on a regular basis. These participants were asked to share their knowledge about what it takes to make high-consequence decisions.
Summer Air Traffic Delays – Warnings vs. Reality
Leonard J. Marcus
November 9, 2016
The aviation system remains a prime target for terrorists. The traveling public, airlines, and airports grew impatient in the face of long security lines. As a result, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was often in the news, until its leaders undertook a systematic process of transformation to both enhance security and minimize inconvenience for the traveling public.
The Human Factors in Leadership Decision Making
Eric J. McNulty
November 1, 2016
Preparedness and response organizations have realized many benefits from adopting the Incident Command System (ICS) and similar formal management structures. Performance, however, depends on how people behave as humans within that system – particularly in stressful, fast-moving environments. Integrating behavioral training into ICS training may help improve performance and outcomes.
