The project, Unravelling the secrets of crisis detection and decisive action, will be conducted in four phases. The first two phases focus on creating an analytical framework and summarising research on high reliability organisations (HRO). The following two phases will apply the results to nine Swedish early warning systems and evaluate their effectiveness compared to best practices within HRO, according to FHS.
The research grant, covering the period 2024-2026, marks a continuation of previous research on creeping crises, including climate change, pandemics, and cyberattacks. The aim is to develop an evidence-based method to detect threats and prevent crises. The research project will analyse what Swedish authorities can learn from high reliability organisations, such as air traffic control systems, and how they can enhance their ability to anticipate and prevent creeping crises.
– MSB's grant is a recognition of our research on creeping crises and a confirmation that our results have been translated into practice. The concept has gained traction in the Swedish governmental sphere, not least as a result of our research on Sweden's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The new funds create a good platform to expand collaboration with other actors, such as within the private sector, says Magnus Ekengren.