A Customizable Maturity Model for Assessing Collaboration in Disaster Management

A maturity model can be used as a tool to assess the current state of competence, to set a roadmap for improvement and to assess the effects of development of collaboration in disaster management. Customized maturity models were developed for two disaster management exercises: a search and rescue exercise and an ICT exercise. The contents of the models were based on a literature review on maturity models, on the goals of the exercises, and on the interviews of the participating organizations. In the exercises, human agents performed a quick maturity assessment where they assessed the maturity level of the key capabilities of collaboration such as the sharing of critical information. Critical information such as geographic information is a prerequisite for shared situational awareness. The results of the maturity assessments were visualized on radar charts which facilitate the display and comparison of multivariate data from different exercises. They highlighted the strengths of collaboration and capabilities that need further development. The process itself: the development of the maturity model, the quick maturity assessment, and the presentation of the results is the main result of the research.