The benefits of collaborative processes for establishing all hazard incident management teams in urban area security initiative regions

CHDS State/LocalIn 2008, consistent with past practice, the Phoenix Urban Area began a collaborative process to establish three All Hazards Incident Management Teams (AHIMT) with a three-year timeline for project completion. In 2013, one team is functional and the other two AHIMT are not yet deployable. This research constitutes a case study of the 2008 Phoenix AHIMT process, and seeks to identify challenges and obstacles to collaboration. The findings of this case study of collaboration in the Phoenix Urban Area found that participants in the process viewed positively the emphasis by leaders on collaboration, the frequency that collaboration took place, and the benefits that arose from mutual collaboration. There is minimal agreement among participants about how much collaboration has taken place in developing the AHIMT program. The benefits of collaboration are believed to include the sharing of resources, developing positive relationships with other agencies, reducing operational costs, and providing a common framework for identifying and solving problems. These findings support the following recommendations for using collaboration in regional initiatives: an overall program strategy document that addresses the need for and commitment to collaboration, governance, personnel, competency, remaining relevant, and an exercise schedule.http://archive.org/details/thebenefitsofcol1094537576Assistant Fire Chief, Tempe Fire Department, Arizon