Responding to Security Threats: The Decision-Making Process in a Crisis

Purpose: The purpose of the article is to present a universal concept of decision-making during a crisis situation, a concept enabling the optimal development of decisions to respond to any type of threat, in various conditions, usually related to incomplete and unconfirmed information, high dynamics of crisis situation variability, shortage of forces and resources or time pressure. Design/Methodology/Approach: The main research problem resulting from the adopted course of preliminary research was formulated in the form of the question: What is the optimal decision-making process in a crisis situation, the system of interrelated phases, stages and activities, which is an element of effective security of people, property, critical infrastructure and the environment? In the research process, both theoretical and empirical research methods characteristic of the field of social sciences were used. A review of the literature on the subject, documents and conclusions from the expert interview were considered, in which experts from crisis management units of various levels of the system participated, and the selection of experts focused on people who have knowledge and practical experience, which guaranteed factual and reliable answers. Findings: Decision-making in a crisis situation is a complex process that requires a few activities to be performed by a group of functionaries and experts in various conditions who develop decisions on the use of force and means to counteract various types of threats and remove their effects. The complexity of decision-making during a crisis situation makes it difficult to clearly present the decision-making system. The concept of decision-making during a crisis situation presented in the article is a sequence of interrelated phases, stages and activities that enable response during any type of threat. Depending on the time or access to information, it allows you to simplify, expand or even omit some elements of this process, or change their assumed order. The most important thing is that it provides a solution to the problem situation and prepares the decision-maker with options of action based on the analysis of the crisis situation, the assessment of factors affecting the performance of the task, which makes it possible to make a decision, i.e., the act of choosing the optimal variant of future action from among several possible ones. In addition, it allows you to prepare an action plan and develop task documents, assign tasks to executive entities, as well as monitor the implementation of decisions and adjust as needed. Practical implications: The presented concept should improve the decision-making process in a crisis situation and should be used in security systems, especially in the crisis management system at all its levels and in organizational units of systems responsible for the decision-making process in a crisis situation. Originality/Value: The article presents a universal system of the decision-making process that allows for the development of a decision to respond to any type of threat, in a crisis situation, which is characterized by, among m.in, such features as: surprise, time pressure, unpredictability, insufficient and uncertainty of information, loss of control over the situation or the appearance of panic.