Individuals in Organizations

Individuals who are faced with a disaster often react in ways that are maladaptive, or at least ineffective. On the other hand, organizations (which can be thought of as conglomerates of individuals) often react swiftly, decisively and well. It is useful to understand why.

Members of organizations often have well-defined roles that tell them what to do in an emergency, who is responsible for what, what resources are available, etc. Organizations not only provide structure, they also provide a realistic possible of an effective response in a situation where any individual, working on his or her own, would not feel confident of success. It is common to make fun of bureaucracies, but it is the very structure that the classic bureaucracy represents that allows individuals to face and conquer dangers and challenges that would overwhelm individuals acting in the absence of this structure. One of the many reasons organizations invest in preparing for disasters is that this give the members of each organization time and practice in mastering the requirements of their individual job roles, and the opportunity to practice working together.