PERCEPTIONS OF THE ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF EMERGENCY MANAGERS
Darren Blackburn

BACKGROUND
During an emergency, first response and support agencies work together in a

The variation in titles, functions, roles, and indoctrination possibilities demonstrate a

fashion that allows for the strategic delivery of services while accommodating the

broad depth of understanding of the discipline. However, it understanding what the

responsibility and authority of each agency to their respective jurisdictional and legal

critical elements and experiences are that guide an individual in forming their identity

roles. This integration of services does not come about by accident. Rather, many of

as an emergency manager. This lack of understanding creates a challenge in

the processes used to coordinate these agencies are designed and fostered by

indoctrinating and training new emergency managers, potentially resulting in

emergency management practitioners, commonly known as emergency managers.

inconsistent training, inconsistent practices in the field, and inconsistent expectations
of the competencies and abilities of emergency managers.

The job title of emergency manager is increasingly found in government, industry
and the private sector. However, the function, authority and responsibility of

The goal of this research study is to explore the roles and functions of emergency

emergency managers can vary greatly across each sector. An emergency manager

managers based on the perceptions of public safety professionals. This study will

working for a local government authority may have a far role from one working for a

focus on identifying what activities are seen as being central to emergency

federal agency. Additionally, seemingly minor variations in job titles can have major

management, identifying the individuals and groups seen as being important for

implications. Emergency management functions may be performed by emergency

emergency managers engage with, and identifying common experiences emergency

coordinators, emergency program managers, business continuity planners,

managers are perceived relevant to emergency managers.

resiliency officers, and disaster response coordinator to name a few. While each of
these titles imply a different role, there is a level of overlap in the function of each

METHODS

role that ties them together into the core emergency management discipline.

This research is currently being conducted. A selection of public safety professionals

Individuals may enter the emergency management discipline a number of different

are being engaged in one-on-one interviews to gather their perceptions on the roles

ways. Some may pursue a formal education, obtaining certificates, degrees, and

and functions of emergency managers. Interviews are being conducted in a semi-

professional designations. Others may find themselves tasked with performing

structured, conversational format. A set of initial questions and probes is used to

emergency management functions on the periphery of a different role. However, the

guide participants in exploring the topic. Additional open-ended and structured

variations in how individuals become emergency managers belie the somewhat

questions have been generated and are used as additional prompts or redirects for

complicated process of “becoming” an emergency manager. To be considered a

participants. Questions guide participants to consider historical recollections, as well

legitimate emergency manager, an individual must come to identify themselves as

as current views and opinions on the roles and characteristics of emergency

an emergency manager. While education is likely an important factor in forming this

managers. Interviews range from 30 to 45 minutes.

identity, there are a number of characteristics that appear necessary. These may

Interviews are being recorded and transcribed. Initial themes are being generated on

include participation in legitimate emergency experiences, actively maintaining

the basis of emerging information from participants. Future research will focus on

professional networks that includes relationships with key individuals, holding

examining and validating these initial themes as well as exploring the process of

specific opinions on practices and theories, and actively supporting the uniqueness

‘becoming’ and emergency manager.

of the emergency management discipline from other emergency-related disciplines.
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