Testing theory and applications

Public Safety Networks supported by information and communication technology infrastructure, are products of one or more characteristics of their member agencies, which aggregate to complicated network behavior thereby reducing public safety events. PSNs operate as CAS because they are made up of multiple agencies, acting on condition and in parallel with member agencies leading to continuous adaptation and evolution. PSNs are organized to tackle Public safety exercises, such as anti-terrorism, fire prevention, law enforcement, and medical emergency that are deemed as wicked problems.

A broad range of cross-agency intergovernmental collaborative initiatives employing inter-organizational systems encounter challenges associated with cost inefficiencies, performance as well as social fabrics in PSNs. This study is meant to offer considerations for Public Safety Network managers. It applies CAS systems theory to explain the changes in Public Safety Networks as they address the "wicked problems" they encounter on their daily operations.

Study

Public Safety Networks as a Type of Complex Adaptive System (Tomasino, 2012), is a qualitative study analyzing Public Safety Networks (PSN) as Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS). This analysis is a descriptive case study of two Public Safety Networks;

1. Capital Wireless Integrated Network (CapWIN). This initiative is a partnership incorporating Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC and the United State of America Federal government. This partnership was purposed to integrate transportation and criminal justice wireless communication network. It has registered and trained 41 agencies and 947 users. It has also posted over 24,000 event queries.

2. Clermont County Division of Public Safety Services (DPSS). This network was established to support the communication needs of Clermont County Sherriff's Department. Eventually the network ended up incorporating all the law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical agencies throughout Clermont. This network makes available mobile radio communications, online services and computer-based dispatch for field and administrative operations.

The study critically examined PSNs, "wicked Problems," interacting elements and emergent Properties. The study also highlighted how CAS theory can be used to analyze the changes in the PSN modes of operation . This was done by investigating characteristics such as Agents with Schemata, Self Organizing Networks Sustained by Importing Energy, Co-evolution at the Edge of Chaos and Recombination and System Evolution.

Literature review themes