Determinants of collaboration between digital volunteer networks and formal response organizations in catastrophic disasters
International Journal of Organization Theory & Behavior
ISSN: 1093-4537
Article publication date: 16 May 2019
Abstract
Purpose
When catastrophic disasters recently occurred, digital volunteer networks formed by the public emerged across the globe. They aggregated, analyzed and visualized disaster data. Those volunteer networks sometimes shared their data with formal response organizations. Such data sharing and integration increased the capacity of formal response organizations for dealing with disasters. However, despite the emergence and contributions of digital volunteer networks, the literature has been focused primarily on the role of formal response organizations such as emergency management agencies and the Red Cross. The purpose of this paper is to describe how technical and organizational factors influence collaboration between digital volunteer networks and formal response organizations.
Design/methodology/approach
This research employs a case study method, focusing on the 2015 Nepal earthquake.
Findings
This study found that information technology and a shared understanding of disaster situations and how to address disasters are key determinants of collaboration between digital volunteer networks and formal response organizations.
Originality/value
This research is expected to contribute to building an integrated emergency response system in the information age.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
An earlier version of the paper was based in part on a doctoral dissertation completed by the first author and it was presented at the 2018 American Society for Public Administration Annual Conference. The authors thank Keren Hirsh in the Decision Theater at Arizona State University for editing the paper. This research received no specific grant from any funding agency.
Citation
Park, C.H. and Johnston, E. (2019), "Determinants of collaboration between digital volunteer networks and formal response organizations in catastrophic disasters", International Journal of Organization Theory & Behavior, Vol. 22 No. 2, pp. 155-173. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOTB-07-2018-0088
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited