Common operational pictures as collective problem representations: The case of the 2018 wildfires in Sweden.

Common operational pictures (COPs) can be seen as collective problem representations that facilitate effective problem solving during emergency response. This article investigates how problems are represented in COPs and discusses how such problem representations could be improved to better inform ongoing response operations. A content analysis of 41 COPs created by a Swedish county board during the large-scale wildfires that broke out in 2018 shows that most problems are represented in terms of geographic references and the status of fires, what problems to avoid, or risks, and resource type and status.

Structures for collaboration and networked adaptation: Emerging themes from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a crisis that is "creeping" in its onset and "slow-burning" in its duration. It is characterized by extreme uncertainty, ambiguity, and complexity, presenting an unprecedented need for response across sectors and political-administrative levels. While there has been an explosion of research papers into the national strategies for handling the pandemic, empirical publications on the local and regional management are still scarce.

"What's the problem?"-Toward a framework for collective problem representation in emergency response management.

Responding to today's often transboundary emergencies, frequently characterized by unclear root causes and indistinct responsibilities as well as multiple actors, will require that responding actors come together to meet societal needs and solve problems arising in relation to those needs. In collective problem solving, representing the problem is crucial, especially in emergency situations, where problems are changing and interacting with each other and are difficult to define. There is however a lack of problem representation research in general and in emergency situations specifically.