Improving Technical and Risk Communication: An Organizational Study of North Carolina Emergency Management and Hurricane Florence

IF 1.6 2区文学 Q2 COMMUNICATION

IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication Pub Date : 2023-08-08 DOI:10.1109/TPC.2023.3295969

Samantha Jo Cosgrove

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: The relationships between US government emergency management agencies and the public they serve are fraught with distrust and tension. This distrust can be attributed to past disaster responses and a lack of transparency with emergency information. Emergency managers work as technical communicators to share information through multiple platforms and digital spaces. Public trust can be increased by improving communication strategies within emergency management organizations. Literature review: Research to improve communication between emergency management agencies and the public calls for more trust and transparency within government organizations. However, little research has been conducted about the ways an organization's structure and workflow influence communication practices/strategies. Research questions: 1. How do emergency management organizations share information about natural disasters with the public? 2. How can communication strategies and workflow in emergency management organizations be improved? Research methodology: Clay Spinuzzi's topsight is used as a framework to conduct an organizational analysis of North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) response to Hurricane Florence in 2018. Interviews were conducted and artifacts were collected to investigate Spinuzzi's three levels of activity and create corresponding workflow diagrams. Results: Results indicate a need for standardized emergency management training and additional resources to support emergency managers. Interventions from technical and professional communicators can assist in developing communication strategies and problem-solving techniques. Conclusion: Developing informed communication strategies within an emergency management agency is a complex problem because of the numerous factors that play into the organizational structure and existing protocols. Technical communication scholars can help improve communication practices through local community outreach and additional organizational analyses.

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改进技术和风险沟通：北卡罗来纳州应急管理和飓风佛罗伦萨的组织研究

背景：美国政府应急管理机构与其服务的公众之间的关系充满了不信任和紧张。这种不信任可归因于过去的灾害应对和紧急信息缺乏透明度。应急管理人员作为技术沟通者，通过多个平台和数字空间共享信息。可以通过改进应急管理组织内部的沟通策略来增加公众的信任。文献综述：旨在改善应急管理机构与公众之间沟通的研究呼吁政府组织内部加强信任和透明度。然而，很少有人研究组织的结构和工作流程如何影响沟通实践/策略。研究问题：1。应急管理组织如何与公众分享有关自然灾害的信息？2.如何改进应急管理组织的沟通策略和工作流程？研究方法：Clay Spinuzzi的上图被用作一个框架，对北卡罗来纳州应急管理局（NCEM）对2018年飓风佛罗伦萨的反应进行组织分析。进行访谈并收集工件，以调查Spinuzzi的三个活动级别，并创建相应的工作流程图。结果：结果表明需要标准化的应急管理培训和额外的资源来支持应急管理人员。来自技术和专业沟通者的干预可以帮助制定沟通策略和解决问题的技巧。结论：在应急管理机构内制定知情沟通策略是一个复杂的问题，因为组织结构和现有协议中有许多因素。技术传播学者可以通过当地社区外联和额外的组织分析来帮助改进传播实践。

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来源期刊

IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication COMMUNICATION-

CiteScore

3.20

自引率

11.80%

发文量

期刊介绍： The IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication is a peer-reviewed journal devoted to applied research on professional communication—including but not limited to technical and business communication. Papers should address the research interests and needs of technical communicators, engineers, scientists, information designers, editors, linguists, translators, managers, business professionals, and others from around the globe who practice, conduct research on, and teach others about effective professional communication. The Transactions publishes original, empirical research that addresses one of these contexts: The communication practices of technical professionals, such as engineers and scientists The practices of professional communicators who work in technical or business environments Evidence-based methods for teaching and practicing professional and technical communication.