Knowledge model for post-disaster management/Vadybai po stichiniu nelaimiu skirtas ziniu modelis.

The main aim of this research is to help post-disaster managers to find most rational

solutions by using advanced knowledge and developed Model. Post-disaster management

is shared, purposeful activities based upon the development of common understandings and interpretations

of means and ends. Stakeholders generate the personal and group decisions which

contribute to post-disaster management success. This article describes the development (during

EurAsia project) of a Knowledge Model for Post-disaster Management based upon multiple criteria

decision making theory. The developed Model involves six stages that help to determine

rational post-disaster management alternatives by evaluating post-disaster management' life

cycle, stakeholders, micro and macro environment.

KEYWORDS: EurAsia project; Post-disaster management; Best practice; Alternatives; Modelling

and forecasting

Pagrindinis sio darbo tikslas--padeti asmenims, kurie vadovauja darbams likviduojant stichiniq nelaimiu

padarinius, rasti racionaliausius sprendimus, naudojant pazangias zinias ir sukurteL modelj. Vadyba po stichiniu

nelaimiq--tai bendra, tikslinga veikla, grindziama priemoniu ir bendro tikslu supratimo bei interpretavimo

kurimu. Suinteresuotos grupes priima asmeninius ir grupinius sprendimus, kurie prisideda prie vadybos

po stichiniq nelaimiq sekmes. Siame straipsnyje aprasoma, kaip buvo sukurtas vadybos po stichiniq nelaimiqu

ziniu modelis (vykdant EurAsia projekta), pagristas daugiakriterinio sprendmmu priemimo teorija. Sukurta

modeli sudaro sesios dalys, padedancios nustatyti racionalias vadybos po stichiniu nelaimiu alternatyvas,

jvertinant vadybos po stichiniu nelaimiu gyvavimo cikla, suinteresuotas grupes, mikro- ir makroaplinka.

1. INTRODUCTION

Post-disaster management has various approaches and different priorities in different countries. It is not surprising that there are widely divergent views and interpretations in various countries, with marked differences between countries that have a developed market economies, those with transition economies and in developing countries. Not all countries with one of theses three development levels, understand post-disaster management in the same way and so have different strategies.

Successful strategies for post-disaster management should be more-or-less compatible with disaster level, economic, social, cultural, institutional, technological, technical, cultural, environmental and legal/regulatory situations in the country under consideration. A varied spectrum of strategies can be launched, while keeping in mind that the mix of influencing factors and the relative emphasis is on one or other of the factors and overall will depend on local conditions.

Therefore, the best post-disaster management strategy of another country cannot just be copied. Strategies may only be adapted into a real disaster situation, economic, social, cultural, institutional, technological, technical, cultural, environmental and legal/regulatory circumstances of the existing state. There is no such thing as a single post-disaster management strategy that could be applied to all countries.

The trends of post-disaster management and modelling were investigated by researchers from various countries. For example, Ruangrassamee and Saelem (2009) described effect of Tsunamis generated in the Manila Trench on the Gulf of Thailand. Scheffers et al. (2008) analysed Late Holocene tsunami traces on the Western and Southern coastlines of the Peloponnesus (Greece). Barbier (2008) presented lessons learned from the household decision to replant mangroves in Thailand. Cochard et al. (2008) reviewed the 2004 tsunami in Aceh and Southern Thailand with special emphasis on coastal ecosystems, wave hazards and vulnerability. Alongi (2008) studied mangrove forests with special emphasis on resilience, protection from tsunamis, and responses to global climate change. Morton et al. (2007) presented physical criteria for distinguishing sandy tsunami and storm deposits using modern examples. Perez-Maqueo et al. (2007) examined coastal disasters from the perspective of ecological economics. Rose (2007) analysed economic resilience to natural and man-made disasters. Altay and Green (2006) applied OR/MS research in disaster operations management. Benson and Clay (2006) analysed disasters, vulnerability and the global economy with special emphasis on implications for less-developed countries and poor populations. Galbraith and Stiles (2006) reviewed disasters and entrepreneurship. Hassan (2005) performed simplified two-dimensional numerical modelling of coastal flooding. Bates et al. (2004) analysed mitigating impacts on tourism. Alcantara-Ayala (2002) studied geomorphology, natural hazards, vulnerability and prevention of natural disasters in developing countries. Jayaraman et al. (1997) analysed management of the natural disasters from space technology inputs.

It can be noticed that above researchers engaged in the analysis of a post-disaster management and modelling but did not consider the research's object as was analyzed by the authors of the present investigation. A life cycle of a post-disaster management may be described as follows: post-disaster management life cycle, the stakeholders involved in a post-disaster management as well as the micro and macro environments, having a particular impact on it and making an integral whole.

The paper is structured as follows. Following this introduction, Section 2 describes the knowledge model for post-disaster management. In Section 3 we determining the best practice for post-disaster management as based on the actual conditions. Performance of transformational learning and redesigning the manager' mental and practical behaviour are presented in Section 4. Finally, some concluding remarks are provided in Section 5.

2. KNOWLEDGE MODEL FOR POST-DISASTER MANAGEMENT

There are two essential branches of knowledge management--explicit and tacit. Explicit knowledge is widely used in information technologies. Explicit knowledge is comprised of the documents and data (for example, estimate for building costs) that are stored within the memory of computers. This information must be easily accessible, so that stakeholders could get all the necessary knowledge without disturbances. Tacit knowledge is knowledge housed in the human brain, such as: expertise, understanding, skills, professional intuition, competence, experience, organizational culture, informal organizational communication networks, intellectual capital of an organization, ideals, traditions, values, emotions, etc (see Figure 1).

[FIGURE 1 OMITTED]

The research's aim was to develop a Knowledge Model for Post-disaster Management by undertaking a complex analysis of micro and macro environment factors affecting post-disaster life cycle and to present recommendations on efficient eliminating disaster's subsequences. The research was performed by studying the most advanced expertise in the field. A simulation was undertaken to provide insight into creating an effective micro and macro environment.

The level of efficiency of the post-disaster management depends on the many micro and macro-level variable factors and all these variable factors can be optimized. The main objective of this Model is to analyze the best experiences in the field, to compare it and consequently to present particular recommendations.

The word 'model' implies 'a system of game rules', which the post-disaster management development could use to its best advantage. The stakeholders of the post-disaster management cannot correct or alter the micro and macrolevel variables, but they can go into the essence of their effect and take them into consideration in their activities. Stakeholders, by knowing the environment affecting their activities, can organize their present and future actions more successfully.

This research included the following six stages.

Stage I. Comparative description of the post-disaster management:

* A system of criteria characterizing the efficiency of post-disaster management was determined by means of using relevant literature and experts methods;

* Based on a system of criteria, a description of the present state of post-disaster management is given in conceptual (textual, graphical, numerical, etc.) and quantitative forms.

Stage II. A comparison and contrast of post-disaster management:

* Identifying the global development trends (general regularities) of the post-disaster management;

* Identifying post-disaster management differences between countries under analysis;

* Determining pluses and minuses of these differences for countries under analysis;

* Determining the best practice of post-disaster management for countries under analysis as based on the actual conditions.

* Estimating the deviation between post-disaster managers' knowledge of worldwide best practice and their practice-in-use.

Stage III. A development of some of the general recommendations as how to improve the efficiency levels for post-disaster management.

Stage IV. Submission of particular recommendations for post-disaster management. Each of the general recommendations proposed in the fifth stage carry several particular alternatives.

Stage V. A multiple criteria analysis of post-disaster management's components and a selection of the most efficient version of post-disaster's management life cycle were determined at this stage. After this stage, the received compatible and rational components of a post-disaster management are joined into the full post-disaster management process.

Stage VI. Performance of transformational learning and redesigning the mental and practical behaviour of post-disaster managers:

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