The homeland security ecosystem : an analysis of hierarchical and ecosystem models and their influence on decision makers

Abstract

The premise of this study is the principle that prevention, preparedness, response and recovery strategies for complex manmade threats to our nation necessitate both collaboration and knowledge sharing among government agencies. The thesis asks, What can be learned by examining the New Jersey homeland security environment through both hierarchical and ecosystem models, and what aid can those heuristic templates provide to organizational decision making The analysis of existing literature revealed two sets of frameworks or conceptual lenses. The hierarchical framework includes command and control, authorities, planning, information flows, organizational culture and behavior, SOPs, policy, and governance. The ecosystem framework includes strategic planning, cooperation, collaboration, interdependencies, information flows, diversity, emergence, and networks. The two frameworks are used to conduct comparative case studies of past complex events that occurred within the New Jerseys homeland security environment. The studys findings suggest that New Jerseys fusion center, based on its structure and capabilities, is suitable for blending both organizational frameworks, leading it to having the capacity to solve complex issues through collaboration, emergence, strategic planning, networks, and information sharing.