AMU Emergency Management Opinion Public Safety

The Single Point of Failure

The military spends a great deal of time teaching their officers and non-commissioned officers about management and how to efficiently manage a group of people under a variety of circumstances and environments.  It is, of course, an important consideration given what the military does on a regular basis.

In the military, “giving orders” is an important aspect as it enables a group of people to act a certain way. However, a management system in many other organizations must be fluid, with individuals in the system working simultaneously without the need of direction in most circumstances. 

Single Point of Failure

Some managers are naturally micromanagers and without realizing it, may actually demotivate their staff. The [link url=”http://coachingforleaders.com/single-point-of-failure/” title=”single-point-of-failure manager”] will work longer hours and will create an organizational culture where employees will only do the bare minimum instead of going above and beyond their respective roles. Further, employees often come to this type of manager as the main decision-maker.

This concept can also be [link url=”http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/single-point-of-failure.html” title=”defined”] as an “element or part of a system that does not have a backup” – which is why it is so detrimental to a team or an organization.

In emergency situations it is tempting to want to micromanage ever single situation and employee. But micromanaging is time-consuming and creates a single-point-of-failure, rendering employees as unable to really handle situations on their own.

When the single point of failure exists, tasks are rarely handled in an efficient manner. Decisions have to be formally made by the manager and the wheels of progress can stop dead in its tracks.

Motivation

When this scenario exists in a team setting, employees within the organization or team often have a difficult time making decisions on their own. For those who are independent thinkers naturally, it can be a difficult thing for them to follow a leader with this leadership style.

In turn, such a management style can create situations where employees are no longer motivated to do their tasks and the team and organization suffers. The single point of failure can have a terribly detrimental effect on a team — it simply does not help.

Emergency management

In the midst of a disaster, a single-point-of-failure scenario is beyond problematic. While it can be terrible for the motivation and efficiency of a team, it can also create ample opportunity for the team or organization to have problems with efficiency.

Anyone in an emergency managerial position should contemplate whether or not they are a single point of failure so they can make adjustments to get away from this habit.

Allison G.S. Knox

Allison G. S. Knox teaches in the fire science and emergency management departments at the University. Focusing on emergency management and emergency medical services policy, she often writes and advocates about these issues. Allison works as an Intermittent Emergency Management Specialist in the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. She also serves as the At-Large Director of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, Chancellor of the Southeast Region on the Board of Trustees with Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in Social Sciences, chair of Pi Gamma Mu’s Leadership Development Program and Assistant Editor for the International Journal of Paramedicine. Prior to teaching, Allison worked for a member of Congress in Washington, D.C. and in a Level One trauma center emergency department. She is an emergency medical technician and holds five master’s degrees.

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