Lack of Knowledge Sharing Amongst Institutions in Denmark Responsible for Vulnerable Groups

Lack of Knowledge Sharing Amongst Institutions in Denmark Responsible for Vulnerable Groups

Ann Bojsen, Senior Lecturer Emergency and Risk Management Department, Metropolitan University College, Copenhagen, Denmark

Even though understanding risk and how it is enacted is regarded as a crucial step in order to share knowledge, raise awareness or make and implement the right sharing of knowledge among the relevant staff and institutions, very little research has been conducted in Denmark to review how prepared as well as conscious of threats the responsible institutional leaders are – and how they share their knowledge about risk and policy management. In order to protect vulnerable groups such as children, disabled, sick and elderly people, we need to learn more about the general risk understanding and sharing of such according to region, responsibility, common events and hazards. This information is needed to protect against future unintentional and intentional hazards and compare those with the institutional responsibilities.
Risk understanding and knowledge sharing among professionals with responsibility for vulnerable groups can be a crucial tool for handling everyday threats as well as full-size hazards. Additionally, the inclusion of risk understanding is a necessary part and an essential prerequisites to learn more about risk identification in order to safeguard lives and property, reduce disaster losses as well as ensure sustainable institution management and leadership. However, lack of focus on risk understanding and knowledge sharing may create unnecessary property damage, mental injuries and stresses or even loss of life.
This research addresses risk understanding amongst emergency services, local government and institutional leaders responsible for vulnerable groups in Denmark. This case study research involves qualitative interviews which were conducted at institutions in Denmark to clarify the risk and policy understanding towards various hazards and locations including both urban and rural areas. Preliminary results from the case study show that policy management is fundamental for the leaders. Within these institutions, the rules are followed but the leaders do not share experiences and knowledge according to various threats.
This research further examines the knowledge gaps and opportunities to learn more about risk understanding and possibly develop new management tools or seminars for those responsible in the sector.