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Interoperability and standardization: lessons from the fruit-bowl

Tony McAleavy (Division of Engineering Technology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA)

Disaster Prevention and Management

ISSN: 0965-3562

Article publication date: 8 October 2021

Issue publication date: 25 October 2021

287

Abstract

Purpose

This study hypothesizes the limitations of standardization as an interoperability development tool within emergency management.

Design/methodology/approach

Pragmatism and Morgan's seminal organizational metaphors inform the conceptualization of the Interoperability Orange metaphor using symbolic logic and visual imagery.

Findings

The essence of standardization is homogeneity. Within emergency management, it is commonplace to develop legislation to standardize policies, procedures, training, equipment and terminology to engender interoperability among first responder and associated organizations. Standardization is achievable with similar or a small number of organizations. However, it is unlikely, if not impossible, in the context of disasters and catastrophes, given the broad range of organizations, groups and individuals typically involved. This diversity of cultures, subcultures, norms, values and indigenous and technical languages intimates that standardization is counterintuitive, particularly in disasters and catastrophes. The posited Interoperability Orange metaphor demonstrates that standardization as a policy, though desired, is theoretically unobtainable in enlarging multiorganizational environments. Thus, new perspectives, policies and solutions for interoperability are needed.

Originality/value

The posited theory builds on the growing body of metaphor-based emergency management research. The Interoperability Orange provides an accessible and easy-to-use communicative tool that aids theoretical cognition – notably within multicultural English as a Second Language environments – as it enables a deeper more critical and explicit understanding of the limits of standardization expressed via metaphor, symbolic logic and imagery.

Keywords

Citation

McAleavy, T. (2021), "Interoperability and standardization: lessons from the fruit-bowl", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 30 No. 4/5, pp. 480-493. https://doi.org/10.1108/DPM-12-2020-0359

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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