Davidson, Louise, Carter, Holly Elisabeth, Amlôt, Richard, Drury, John, Haslam, Alexander, Radburn, Matthew and Stott, Clifford (2022) A social identity perspective on interoperability in the emergency services: emergency responders’ experiences of multi-agency working during the COVID-19 response in the UK. Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management. pp. 1-19. ISSN 0966-0879

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Abstract

Recent research has shown that multi-agency emergency response is beset by a range of challenges, calling for a greater understanding of the way in which these teams work together to improve future multi-agency working. Social psychological research shows that a shared identity within a group can improve the way in which that group works together and can facilitate effective outcomes. In the present study, 52 semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 strategic and/or tactical responders during the COVID-19 pandemic to understand the possible role of shared identity in the multi-agency response to COVID-19 and whether this was linked to factors that facilitated or challenged interoperability. Findings show evidence of a shared identity at a horizontal intergroup level among responders locally. However, there was limited evidence for a shared identity at the vertical intergroup level between local and national responders. Three key factors linked to shared identity appeared to contribute to effective multi-agency working. First, pre-existing relationships with other responders facilitated the ease with which responders were able to work together initially. Second, a sense of ‘common fate’ helped bring responders together, and finally, group leaders were able to strategically reinforce a sense of shared identity within the group.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	interoperability, social identity, multi-teams systems, emergency response, COVID-19
Schools and Departments:	School of Psychology > Psychology
SWORD Depositor:	Mx Elements Account
Depositing User:	Mx Elements Account
Date Deposited:	19 Dec 2022 15:28
Last Modified:	17 Jan 2023 13:45
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/109740

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