Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Governing the sea rescue service in Sweden : Communicating in networks

Palm, Jenny LU and Törnqvist, Eva (2008) In Journal of Risk Research 11(1-2). p.269-280
Abstract

This paper discusses how various actors communicate about and coordinate sea rescue activities in networks. We combine a network approach with theories of inter-organization communication to understand how communication can facilitate or limit coordination in networks. Search and rescue officers retain the overall authority to direct rescue missions, and coordination with several other professions is central to this. When coordinating different professional actors in a network it is important to develop trust, legitimacy, and a shared and uniform understanding of the situation and of how to act. Communication deficiencies often result from the fact that involved actors belong to different organizations with different cultures or... (More)

This paper discusses how various actors communicate about and coordinate sea rescue activities in networks. We combine a network approach with theories of inter-organization communication to understand how communication can facilitate or limit coordination in networks. Search and rescue officers retain the overall authority to direct rescue missions, and coordination with several other professions is central to this. When coordinating different professional actors in a network it is important to develop trust, legitimacy, and a shared and uniform understanding of the situation and of how to act. Communication deficiencies often result from the fact that involved actors belong to different organizations with different cultures or representing different professions. The greatest gap we found was between those working and not working at sea, and between those habitually or seldom involved in rescue activities. Communication comprises more than simply exchanging information; it also entails the forging of relationships, to facilitate future coordination and cooperation and to develop mutual trust and understanding. In any rescue operation it is important that the actors interpret communication in the same way and act according to a shared pattern. Joint training and follow-up are important conditions for continuous learning and development in this regard.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Communication, Cooperation, Coordination, Governance, Interprofessional communication, Network, Search and rescue service, Sweden
in
Journal of Risk Research
volume
11
issue
1-2
pages
12 pages
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • scopus:42249108194
ISSN
1366-9877
DOI
10.1080/13669870801939449
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
339ed458-70b0-4bc6-8138-19aac479def7
date added to LUP
2019-03-11 14:49:38
date last changed
2022-01-31 18:09:35
@article{339ed458-70b0-4bc6-8138-19aac479def7,
  abstract     = {{<p>This paper discusses how various actors communicate about and coordinate sea rescue activities in networks. We combine a network approach with theories of inter-organization communication to understand how communication can facilitate or limit coordination in networks. Search and rescue officers retain the overall authority to direct rescue missions, and coordination with several other professions is central to this. When coordinating different professional actors in a network it is important to develop trust, legitimacy, and a shared and uniform understanding of the situation and of how to act. Communication deficiencies often result from the fact that involved actors belong to different organizations with different cultures or representing different professions. The greatest gap we found was between those working and not working at sea, and between those habitually or seldom involved in rescue activities. Communication comprises more than simply exchanging information; it also entails the forging of relationships, to facilitate future coordination and cooperation and to develop mutual trust and understanding. In any rescue operation it is important that the actors interpret communication in the same way and act according to a shared pattern. Joint training and follow-up are important conditions for continuous learning and development in this regard.</p>}},
  author       = {{Palm, Jenny and Törnqvist, Eva}},
  issn         = {{1366-9877}},
  keywords     = {{Communication; Cooperation; Coordination; Governance; Interprofessional communication; Network; Search and rescue service; Sweden}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  number       = {{1-2}},
  pages        = {{269--280}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  series       = {{Journal of Risk Research}},
  title        = {{Governing the sea rescue service in Sweden : Communicating in networks}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13669870801939449}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/13669870801939449}},
  volume       = {{11}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}