Public Organizations

Public bodies usually function according to procedures and norms and rigid bureaucracy which are consistent with a classic hierarchical management structure.  As a result, their reaction to new events and challenges is often characterized by slow movement and low flexibility in adapting to this new reality.

These bodies are tasked with serving and assisting the population in critical times of crisis, and in addition, to maintaining order and the proper conduct of the state / authority / population.

A lack of readiness for extreme situations and disaster by these organizations can lead to chaos and serious injury of the population, which could be preventable with appropriate training and guidance.

During an emergency, one of the most essential tasks to cope with for most public organizations is changing the designation of the organization's functioning.  At the moment of truth, all public organizations will be required to perform one of the following:

• Maintaining functionality - under an extreme load
• Shifting to an entirely different set of goals from the original day-to-day purpose.
• Modifying the handling / service of the organization

For example:

• In a disaster - Hospitals are required to reduce the quality of standard care in order to cope with a large number of casualties.
• Police are required to provide assistance and help to the population in addition to maintaining order
• Schools are transformed from being a place of learning into a location for the evacuation and protection of people

Professional management of extreme situations can be adapted to utilize existing resources, including volunteers and external organizations, both private and public, by properly training members of the organization, practicing different scenarios and examining the overall readiness.

The organization’s ability to cope when crises or unexpected situations occur depends on its flexibility in changing patterns of action vis-a-vis leading and accompanying processes by a dominant and skillful leadership. 

Public bodies - major challenges of unforeseen circumstances, extreme situations, disasters and emergencies

• Continuity - providing public service in times of emergency / maintaining service
• Functional collapse / damage to infrastructure can lead to chaos and worsening of the situation
• Operation and maintenance of critical infrastructure
• Media Operations
• Public guidance and information
• Matrix-based work plan with local authorities, government officials, security agencies and the private sector
• Dealing with the need to change / significant increase in the scope of responsibility, operations and personnel
• Adapting the organizational mission and function in real time