1. Purpose Statement Kirsten Gantenbein 10/26/05
The Department of Homeland Security and Interdepartmental Information Coordination in Response to Natural Disasters
Purpose Statement
Kirsten Gantenbein
10/26/05

2. Purpose Statement Context and Background Problem Research Objectives
Impact
11/18/2018
Kirsten Gantenbein

3. Context and Background: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
November 25, 2002, the Homeland Security Act of 2002 transferred over 22 federal entities—some intact and some in part—and 180,000 employees into the newly created U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
To prevent terrorist attacks
Reduce vulnerability of US to terrorists
Minimize damage caused by terrorist attacks
11/18/2018
Kirsten Gantenbein

4. Context and Background: FEMA
The Federal Emergency Management Agency - a former independent agency that became part of the new Department of Homeland Security in March is tasked with responding to, planning for, recovering from and mitigating against disasters.
Katrina exposed weaknesses in communication and organization
Serious lack of coordination
11/18/2018
Kirsten Gantenbein

5. Context: Benefits of Collaboration and Coordination
“Critical that very clear roles are assigned to local, state and federal authorities with clear criteria of when each is needed to augment the services and resources provided by the other”
National Response Plan
Provides framework for coordinated regional response
11/18/2018
Kirsten Gantenbein

6. Problem
Internal factors, i.e. organization and infrastructure can create barriers to communication and coordination
Different organizational structure across departments
Lacks regional structure to facilitate coordination
No oversight in infrastructure
Divisional CIO turnover at DHS was 45%
Divisional CIOs report to bureaucracy chief, who reports to Chertoff
11/18/2018
Kirsten Gantenbein

7. Research Objectives Emphasis on Observation and Description
To learn about inter-organizational role mechanism of CIOs
To learn the information politics
Information Culture: the pattern of behaviors and attitudes that express an organization’s orientation towards information
11/18/2018
Kirsten Gantenbein

8. Methodology Evaluate Divisional CIOs Information culture
Conduct Interviews with department heads to learn how departments primarily communicate
Investigative survey to learn how CIOs implement coordination to accomplish framework of NRP
Information culture
Conduct interviews
11/18/2018
Kirsten Gantenbein

9. Impact Consolidate Infrastructure Across Departments in DHS
Improved communications for preparedness
Improved regional response and coordination for the next disaster
Shift from response to preparedness
Collaboration
11/18/2018
Kirsten Gantenbein