Transferring the “Right” Disaster Information

The Native American Project

Albert Simard

International Disaster Reduction Conference Davos, Switzerland - Aug. 27-31, 2006

2

GDIN Information “Rights”

Providing the right information, to the right person, in the right format, at the right time and place, to make the right decision.

What does that mean and how do we do it?

3

Information Transfer -Environmental Scan

So much new information is being created that it is impossible for professionals to keep up to date.

Passive dissemination of information is generally ineffective.

There are many barriers to implementing new information.

Information transfer is not well understood. No approach for transferring information works best

in all situations. Information transfer must involve collaboration

among all stakeholders.

4

Communication Complexity

1. How accurately can information be disseminated? (transmission problem)

2. How well does the information convey a desired meaning? (semantic problem)

3. How much does the received meaning affect outcomes? (effectiveness problem)

From: Shanon & Weaver (1999)

5

Information Transfer - Myths and Reality

Disseminating information (passive) Myth: If it is available, they will access it. Reality: Not necessarily

Message attributes (neutral) Myth: If providers understand it, so do users. Reality: Not normally

Achieving outcomes (active) Myth: If they have it, they will use it. Reality: Not unless they want it.

6

Dissemination Questions

Awareness – Do natives know it exists? Search - Can they find it? Accessibility – Do they have access permission?

Networks – Are natives connected? Formats - Can they read it? Systems – Can they analyze it?

Cost - Can natives afford it? Processes – Can they accept it?

Dissemi-nation

7

Who Does What

Providers – Organizations who make disaster information available to and accessible by users.

Transact – Carry out business to enable the transfer of rights to use disaster information.

Transfer – Deliver, distribute, or disseminate outputs to users.

Interact – Enhance the ability, readiness, or willingness of external users to understand and apply information to solve their problems.

Users – Organizations who use disaster information to accomplish objectives, achieve outcomes, or derive benefits.

Dissemi-nation

From: NRCan (2006)

8

Sharing

Synchronous – (Rich) Two-way communication with virtually no time delay, allowing real-time response.Examples Conversation Presentation Telephone Door-to-door Meetings

Dissemi-nation

Examples E-Mail Website Notice Report Newspaper

Asynchronous – (Reach) Two-way communication with a time delay, allowing response at user’s convenience.

9

Communication Channels

How will outputs and services be provided? One way or many? Push or pull? Synchronous or asynchronous?

On-line On-site Off-site Kiosk Mail E-mail Telephony Fax

Dissemi-nation

10

Alerts and Warnings

Pushing watches or warnings Everyone must be contacted Message must be absolutely clear Recipients must respond immediately Channels

Radio Siren Telephone Door-to-door Site visit

Dissemi-nation

11

Information Meaning

Source (authority, trust, research, program)

Quality (authoritative, complete, accurate, reliable)

Utility (relevance, accessible, usable, timely)

Scale (space, time, complexity, magnitude, hierarchy)

Meaning

From: NRCan (2006)

12

Audiences

Internal users – leader, manager, planner, advisor, coordinator, worker

Intermediaries – native groups, governments, business, practitioners, trainers, researchers, media, NGOs, international groups

Clients – native groups, governments, business, practitioners, educators, researchers, NGOs, international groups

Personal interests – social, community, well being, safety, employment, education, consumerism, ownership, environment, age, recreation, traveling

Meaning

From: NRCan (2006)

13

Audience Characteristics

Who are the people you want to reach?

What motivates them to take action?

Who do they listen to – opinion leaders?

Are they permanent or transient?

Are they partners? Clients? Stakeholders?

What is their level of professional knowledge?

Meaning

14

Relationships

Interacting across networks, communities, disciplines, organizations

Developing and nurturing relationships among individuals and groups

Building and maintaining trust and confidence

Understanding wants and needs of providers and users

Partnerships, joint activities, sharing, exchanging

Meaning

Information transfer depends on:

15

Information Use Context

Needs – information is needed to solve a problem Wants – information is wanted to solve a problem

Culture – information is compatible with culture Beliefs – information does not contradict beliefs Trust – the provider and the information are trusted

Knowledge – user knows how to use the information Capacity – user has capacity to use the information

Outcomes

16

Using Information

Internally – lead, manage, prepare plans, advise, coordinate, work

Professionally – govern, commercialize, manage, study, report, interact, educate, advocate, intervene

Personally – Interact, thrive, be safe, work, learn, purchase, own, monitor, participate, recreate, travel

Outcomes

From: NRCan (2006)

17

Information Outcomes

Disaster outcomes – stewardship, competitiveness, preservation, conservation, development, policies, strategies, management, consensus, position, awareness, risk, supply, infrastructure, productivity

Societal benefits – state of society, the economy, the environment, and infrastructure; social, economic, environmental, and institutional sustainability

Personal benefits – individual, community, societal, balance sheet, net worth, environmental conditions, environmental trends

Outcomes

From: NRCan (2006)

18

Conclusion

The right information in the right format, to the right people, at the right time and place, to make the right decision means that we must provide:

Information that natives can easily access, is compatible with existing capacity, and is affordable.

Information from trusted, authoritative sources that is understandable, complete, and reliable.

Information that meets native needs, fits their ways of working, and is useful for solving their problems.