1.
Risk and uncertainty
APPLICATION AREAS
•
Aerospace and automotive
•
Arts and leisure
•
Biotechnology
•
Built environment
•
Civil engineering
•
Creative industries
•
Defence and security
•
Electronics and electrical systems
•
Energy
•
Financial and business services
•
Food supply
•
Healthcare and pharmaceuticals
•
High value manufacturing
•
Information and communication
technology (ICT)
•
Nanotechnology and advanced materials
•
Society and community
•
Sustainability
•
Transport and infrastructure
Risk, Safety & Security
115
Also see:
Risk, Safety & Security –
1.6
Crisis management and
operational risk, page 119
1.1
High risk decision making
Keywords
Critical and major incidents, high stake decision
making, decision inertia, crisis simulations, 10kV,
Hydra
Expertise
Critical and major incidents are commonly dealt with
under conditions of great uncertainty and in environments
that are constantly evolving. The stakes are often high;
individuals, communities and organisations may be at
considerable risk. Decision making and communication
in these circumstances must be effectively and
efficiently coordinated.
The management of such incidents is extremely
challenging; any errors in incident response (or failures
to act in a timely way) can result in catastrophic
consequences, including loss of life.
The University’s research helps shape developments in
critical incident decision making in risky and uncertain
circumstances by highlighting best operational practice
and advising on methods to enhance decision making
skills and other competencies. Our insights help to build
future resilience in areas as diverse as counter-terrorism,
rape and murder investigations, and disaster rescue and
recovery operations. This has helped a wide range of
local, national and international public sector agencies.
Our Centre for Critical and Major Incident Psychology
conducts internationally recognised studies on the
psychological processes associated with managing
critical and major incidents. Using our 10kV and Hydra
suites we support the education and training of
individuals and organisations involved in incident
management, equipping them with the latest knowledge
on the most effective ways to deal with critical and
major incidents.
10
kV
Decisions taken during critical incidents can have
catastrophic consequences. There is seldom a
single, simple reason for errors; they are often a
consequence of chains of unforeseen events. It is
vital to establish how they came about and take
steps to avoid repeating them. The Centre for
Critical and Major Incident Psychology helps to
identify such problems and advises on how to deal
with similar challenges in the future.
Due to the high stakes involved, managers and
other personnel are often reluctant to discuss
openly what they perceive as operational or
personal failings or professional and emotional
vulnerabilities. The University’s 10kV debrief suite
enables people involved in coordinating a critical
incident response to discuss it in-depth, in a
structured way – and, above all, anonymously.
Hydra
Early involvement in Hydra has helped to make the
University of Liverpool the nonpareil for expertise in
simulation-based training (SBT). Some incidents
happen only once in a career, so SBT is an
indispensable means of developing expertise.
The immersive simulation system is unique in
facilitating team and group interactions and
captures some of the complexity and stress of
working on critical incidents.
Hydra was originally developed as a training tool
for police officers wishing to become accredited
senior investigating officers but more recent
exercises have included professionals from the
fields of education, health, and social services.
The University makes significant contributions to
public policy. We provide advice to UK police forces on
suspect interviewing, command and control decision
making, on the use and distribution of controlled drugs,
and the development of policy on the policing of illegal
drug use. We also assist the fire service to understand
the processes of command decision making and
patterns of offender behaviour (in arson). We are involved
with the ambulance service to help managers in their
strategic, tactical and operational decision making.
Capabilities and facilities
Facilities
•
Hydra – one of only two Hydra simulation training
systems in the world to be installed in a university
• 10
kV – a debrief suite, the only permanent academic
installation in the world
•
Hydra and 10kV ‘mobile’ – we have versions of
Hydra and 10kV that can be taken to specific sites
for immersive scenario based learning and
operational debriefing
•
The Henri Tajfel Social Identity Laboratory –
incorporating digital recording and editing suites
designed to facilitate studies of small groups and
inter-group interactions.
Services
•
Simulation-based training, advice and design
(
to test policies, procedures and risky decisions)
•
Critical incident training (for strategic, tactical and
operational decision making in risky situations)
•
Investigative advice and training (especially how
to handle difficult interviews and communication
strategies)
•
Suspect interviewing techniques and advice.
Relevant centres and groups
•
Centre for Critical and Major Incident Psychology.
