Are Your Critical Decision-Making Skills Evolving?

摘要

This is an article about critical decision making, excluding the decisions made on the fireground and at the emergency scene. They include decisions pertaining to a team's behavioral norms necessary for functioning effectively. We typically base the decisions critical to the operation of our agencies on reality and the systems we have come to trust, including fiscal predictions, assumptions, and probabilities; however, the fiscal crisis that began in 2008 has forced the fire service to significantly change its decision-making process. Since our environment greatly influences our decision making, the process is evolving as we adapt to today's reality and challenges. The "great recession" that began in late 2007-early 2008 is still affecting some local governments, resulting in additional reductions in anticipated revenues, deficit budgets, and the use of reserves or transferring funds. Agencies across America are still facing fire station closures. Labor contract issues and the ability to meet fiscal obligations have become "recurring challenges." The revenue deficit continues to grow in some communities. And, costs, both personnel and operational, continue to grow, increasing each year for most departments.