Question 7

Part1

Read Kettle (2006). He describes three characteristics of “wicked” problems and five pathologies that result in a failure of government to learn from previous errors in crisis response. Describe the characteristics of “wicked” problems and explain one or more of the pathologies that impact operations in the response phase of incidents.

Kettle, D. (2006). Is the Worst Yet to Come? The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science,604, 273-287.  http://academic.udayton.edu/RichardGhere/emergency%20mngt/Annals%20Mar%202006/Kettl%20Worst.pdf

(Keep separate can be one document separated by references) 

Part 2

There are two readings this week that examine Public Leadership in Crisis.  They both have issues that could be characterized as pre-incident, response phase, and post-incident issues.

Boin and t’Hart (2003) describe six public expectations that leaders are incapable of meeting in times of crisis.  Choose two to focus on and provide examples from the article, class, and your own research to illustrate.  (This was written before Hurricane Katrina…were their assertions proved correct?)

Boin & t’Hart. (2003). Public Leadership in Times of Crisis: Mission Impossible? Public Administration Review, 63 (5), 544-553 http://www.huizenga.nova.edu/course-materials/5463/Readings/Boin,%20A.%20&%20Hart,%20P.%202003.%20Public%20Leadership%20in%20Times%20of%20C.pdf