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Understanding practical challenges to risk and vulnerability assessments : the case of Swedish municipalities

Cedergren, Alexander LU ; Hedtjärn Swaling, Vidar ; Hassel, Henrik LU ; Denward, Carl ; Mossberg Sonnek, Karin ; Albinsson, Pär Anders ; Bengtsson, Johan and Sparf, Anna (2019) In Journal of Risk Research 22(6). p.782-795
Abstract

Assessing risks and vulnerabilities in the multifaceted context of a municipality is challenging. There is a plethora of methods and tools to support this task. However, to achieve successful outcomes from Risk and Vulnerability Assessments (RVAs), merely applying theoretically and technically rigorous methods is far from enough; the question of how a method is implemented in a practical context is crucial for reaching intended outcomes. In this paper, we broaden the scope, from a strict consideration of technical and methodological matters, to a presentation of the more elusive challenges in accomplishing RVAs that are actually useful in a local context. We conduct and contrast two independent studies that were aimed at identifying... (More)

Assessing risks and vulnerabilities in the multifaceted context of a municipality is challenging. There is a plethora of methods and tools to support this task. However, to achieve successful outcomes from Risk and Vulnerability Assessments (RVAs), merely applying theoretically and technically rigorous methods is far from enough; the question of how a method is implemented in a practical context is crucial for reaching intended outcomes. In this paper, we broaden the scope, from a strict consideration of technical and methodological matters, to a presentation of the more elusive challenges in accomplishing RVAs that are actually useful in a local context. We conduct and contrast two independent studies that were aimed at identifying general challenges in achieving a successful RVA process in Swedish municipalities. Based on the findings, we argue that there is a need for a considerably increased focus on municipal practices and on the implementation of methods in the practical context. Knowledge and understanding of such practical challenges are pivotal for efforts aimed at both developing methods for RVA and improving the entire RVA process.

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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
practical challenges, risk and vulnerability assessment, Risk assessment, Swedish municipalities, vulnerability assessment
in
Journal of Risk Research
volume
22
issue
6
pages
782 - 795
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • scopus:85057532176
ISSN
1366-9877
DOI
10.1080/13669877.2018.1485169
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f7b60b21-e1ef-4a24-b542-f4ca9acdc6dc
date added to LUP
2018-12-20 13:39:03
date last changed
2022-04-25 19:35:01
@article{f7b60b21-e1ef-4a24-b542-f4ca9acdc6dc,
  abstract     = {{<p>Assessing risks and vulnerabilities in the multifaceted context of a municipality is challenging. There is a plethora of methods and tools to support this task. However, to achieve successful outcomes from Risk and Vulnerability Assessments (RVAs), merely applying theoretically and technically rigorous methods is far from enough; the question of how a method is implemented in a practical context is crucial for reaching intended outcomes. In this paper, we broaden the scope, from a strict consideration of technical and methodological matters, to a presentation of the more elusive challenges in accomplishing RVAs that are actually useful in a local context. We conduct and contrast two independent studies that were aimed at identifying general challenges in achieving a successful RVA process in Swedish municipalities. Based on the findings, we argue that there is a need for a considerably increased focus on municipal practices and on the implementation of methods in the practical context. Knowledge and understanding of such practical challenges are pivotal for efforts aimed at both developing methods for RVA and improving the entire RVA process.</p>}},
  author       = {{Cedergren, Alexander and Hedtjärn Swaling, Vidar and Hassel, Henrik and Denward, Carl and Mossberg Sonnek, Karin and Albinsson, Pär Anders and Bengtsson, Johan and Sparf, Anna}},
  issn         = {{1366-9877}},
  keywords     = {{practical challenges; risk and vulnerability assessment; Risk assessment; Swedish municipalities; vulnerability assessment}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{782--795}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  series       = {{Journal of Risk Research}},
  title        = {{Understanding practical challenges to risk and vulnerability assessments : the case of Swedish municipalities}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13669877.2018.1485169}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/13669877.2018.1485169}},
  volume       = {{22}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}