Reference no: EM133209380

Assignment:

1. Which of the skills management interpersonal, communication, strategic thinking, vision, problem-solving, decision-making, flexibility, adaptability to change, reconciling the conflicting interests of stakeholders are in this case study?

The 2019-20 bushfire season was marked by extensive and long lived fires. The total area burned appeared to be the largest in a single recorded fire season for eastern Australia. During a fire event, managers at the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) have to use an autocratic leadership style where they have total control, even though over half of all NSW RFS staff are volunteers. Information is critical to good decision-making and there is no time to work through a range of potential strategies during an emergency response. Quick decisions can save lives and property The organisational role of management was incredibly complex owing to all the different agencies and resources involved.

Organisations providing support were: Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Rural Fire Service, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Forestry Corporation of NSW, Airservices Australia, Sydney Trains, as well as out-of-state bushfire units and overseas aid. Organising tasks included: transporting firefighters and equipment, fire mapping, search and rescue flights, deploying personnel and firefighting equipment, reloading, refuelling, provision of humanitarian supplies, catering and sourcing accommodation. Overall, it was an enormous effort to minimise loss of life.

Bringing in the military was a contingency response to the worsening fire situation. In December 2019, the Australian Defence Force commenced Operation Bushfire Assist to support state fire services with 6500 troops and 3000 Reservists as well as the Royal Australian Navy's two largest ships. The communication role was therefore critical to coordinate all the state and federal government services.