: This report, along with an accompanying knowledge database tool, represents completion of Task 5 of the work stream Research Using in Vivo Simulation of Meta-Organizational Shared Decision Making (SDM), one component of the Technology Innovation Fund (TIF) program on Meta-organizational Collaboration that has been designed to assist in understanding challenges faced by the Canadian Forces (CF). The objective of the stream is to conduct basic research into shared decision making through the analysis of case studies, exercises and simulations. Task 5 involved the development of a knowledge database tool organised by the various components of the shared-decision making (SDM) framework entitled Model of Inter-Organizational Problem Solving. The database tool purpose, organization and features are described in this report. Results and Discussion: During research undertaken to develop the Model for Inter-organizational Problem Solving (Task 1) and the design and implementation of an experimental plan to test the Model (Tasks 2 and 3), a body of literature was collected and referenced in the various Task reports. Additional peer-reviewed articles and grey literature were consulted for the purpose of completing Task 4: Modeling communication and decision making functions. This knowledge base of information sources has been organized in MS Access by the key components of the Model for ease of use by the operational and analytic communities within DRDC.

: Stewardship of complex extreme events requires effective civil-military collaboration. This paper examines the organizational roles and pre-conditions for this collaboration. Firstly, a review of the relevant interdisciplinary literatures identifies various models of problem-solving and decision-making across the range of organizations involved in major events. Secondly, findings from a series of Canadian and international extreme events involving civil-military interaction are examined to identify situational characteristics and features of inter-organizational relationships across an extended event timeline. Finally, a framework for understanding inter-organizational problem-solving and decision-making is presented. Two interrelated components drive the process: situational complexity and approach to problem-solving. The relationship between these components is modified according to problem-solving stage, and various assets such as power, resources and information. Three elements identified as contributing to situational complexity include impact, uncertainty and vulnerability. These elements interact to determine whether the situation is categorized as simple, complicated or complex. Problem-solving is characterized in time as a recursive six-stage process including problem identification, problem definition, solution generation, decision-making, solution implementation and feedback. Three main approaches to inter-organizational problem-solving are described as coordination, cooperation and collaboration. Methods involving the development of an experimental environment for in vivo simulation to test the inter-organizational problem-solving model are described.

Inter-organizational problem solving of emergencies and extreme events are complex research fields where scarce experimental data is available. To address this problem, the Inter-GAP In Vivo System, was developed to run behavioural experiments of complex crisis. The system design and testing included three categories of participants: for pilot testing, first year university students; for theoretical validity, college students engaged in emergency management programs; and for field validity, expert decision makers who managed major crises. A comparative assessment was performed to select the most suitable video conferencing software commercially available, since it was more cost-efficient to acquire a tool already developed and customized it to the experiment needs than it was to design a new one. Software features analyzed were: ease of use, recording capabilities, format delivery options and security. The Inter-GAP In Vivo System setup was implemented on the video conference platform selected. The system performance was evaluated at three levels: technical setup, task design and work flow processes. The actual experimentation showed that the conferencing software is a versatile tool to enhance collaboration between stakeholders from different organizations, due to the audiovisual contact participants can establish, where non verbal cues can be interchanged along the problem solving processes. Potential future system applications include: collaborative and cross – functional training between organizations.

: Introduction or background: This report represents Task 2 of the work stream ?Research Using in Vivo Simulation of Meta-Organizational Shared Decision Making (SDM)?, one component of the Technology Innovation Fund (TIF) program on Meta-organizational Collaboration that has been designed to assist in understanding challenges faced by the Canadian Forces (CF). The objective of the stream is to conduct basic research into shared decision making through the analysis of case studies, exercises and simulations. Method: This task2 involved the development of an experimental plan to simulate an in vivo decision making environment of emergency management operations and to collect data on the problem solving processes and outcomes of participants in the simulation. Results and Discussion: Based on the Model for Inter-organizational Problem Solving developed in Task 1, the experimental plan presents several research questions related to the impact that intra-organizational environment has on the ability to problem solve collaboratively, and, to the impact that collaboration has on improving problem solving outcomes and processes. The plan outlines two research components: 1) Qualitative analyses to identify features and cognitive structures/patterns that guide decisions about extreme events; 2) In vivo simulation of a complex event using a mix of organization types and participants.