After recent incidents and disasters, a lot of research on emergency management has been carried out. However, there is in general a lack of literature that deals with the comprehensive model to explain which factors influence the efficiency of decision support and the effectiveness of execution support by emergency management systems. The aim of this dissertation is to develop and validate a comprehensive model which explains the critical factors that contribute to the efficiency of decision support and the effectiveness of execution by the critical incident management systems (CIMS).; This dissertation consists of three essays. The aim of the first essay is to develop and validate an instrument to measure the critical factors that contribute to the efficiency of decision support in critical incident management systems (CIMS). The instrument has been developed using a CIMS efficiency model that is based on an adaptation of media richness theory, aspects of the national incident management system (NIMS) and interviews with experts on emergency management. The instrument has been validated through a pretest, followed by a pilot test and, finally, a main field test which includes a survey of 76 experts. The final instrument consists of 28 statistically relevant question items, which form eight constructs. The instrument allows communities to assess both strengths and weaknesses of existing systems. This allows communities to better prepare for disasters as it informs both policies and practice on areas of weakness that need to addressing.; The second essay is developed on the basis of Information Theory and several studies on risk communications. The model has been validated through an empirical test which includes a survey of 108 first-responders in the western New York area. The results indicate that the effectiveness of execution is dependent on the efficiency of decision support by the CIMS and the efficiency of decision support can be obtained by sufficient communication channel and better information sharing. The comprehensive model could be the basis for further exploration into the measurement of performance on first-responders activities and emergency management systems.; The third essay is extended from the second essay in order to include the effects of human and psychological aspects of first-responders and resource allocation. The model has been validated through an empirical test which includes a survey of 129 first-responders in the state of Louisiana where were seriously struck by hurricanes Katrina and Rita on August and September 2005.; The results indicate that the effectiveness of execution support is dependent on three factors: the efficiency of decision support, on-scene coping of first-responders, and public communication. The results also clarifies that the efficiency of decision support depends on the resource sufficiency, which is dependent on three factors: resource allocation, information sharing, and sensor information. Comparison between hurricanes Katrina and Rita areas discovers that the first-responders in severely damages areas evaluated their effectiveness of execution lower than first-responders in well responded areas did. The difference comes from the variation of the efficiency of decision support by systems, on-scene coping; and excessive regulation partially.
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