Rick A. Myer

Human impact issues for crisis management in organizations

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to describe the adaptation of an assessment model, the Triage Assessment System (TAS), which is widely used in crisis intervention to understand the human impact of a crisis within an organization.Design/methodology/approach – After a literature review, the Triage Assessment System is adapted to be applicable to organizations in crisis. Nine characteristics associated with the impact of crises on employees of an organization are discussed.Findings – Suggestions are made for ways in which organizations can use the TAS to improve their preparation for recovery efforts after a crisis. These suggestions outline ways to use the TAS as well as approaches that consultants may employ when working with organizations. Suggestions are also made for future research using the TAS with organizations. Although developed for individuals, the concepts used in the TAS can also be applied to organizations in crisis.Originality/value – The article offers practical suggestions to help ...

Assessing Human Impact of Organizational Crises: Reliability and Validity of the Triage Assessment Scale for Organizations (Tas:O)

The present study evaluated the reliability and validity of the Triage Assessment Survey: Organizations (TAS:O), a 27-item, 5-point, Likert summated rating scale. One hundred and seventeen participants responded to the TAS:O after reading mild, moderate, marked and severe organizational crisis scenarios. The overall Cronbachs alpha and split-half reliability were both .93. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed three factors, supporting the hypothesis that the TAS:O is comprised of three distinct factors (i.e., Affect, Behavior, and Cognition). An analysis of variance provided evidence that the TAS:O has the capacity to distinguish among mild, moderate, marked, and severe crises. Because this research is the first to evaluate the TAS:O, further studies are needed to strengthen confidence in the psychometric properties of this scale.

A population and economic overview of Cambria County, Pennsylvania following the 1977 Johnstown Flood

Purpose – This paper seeks to examine the extent of monetary damage, the loss of life and the effect on employment caused by 1977 Johnstown Flood and their subsequent effects on population, unemployment rate, poverty rate, per capita income, median household income, and education in Cambria County, Pennsylvania.Design/methodology/approach – Statistics from 1980, 1990 and 2000 were used to create an economic and population overview of Cambria County. Short‐term and long‐term effects of the 1977 flood were examined to uncover possible trends regarding population and economics. Revealed trends might aid communities in recovering following a natural disaster.Findings – There have been continuous decreases in population following the 1977 Johnstown Flood and a drastic increase in the unemployment rate following the flood. These findings suggest that the loss of key employers following a major natural disaster may lead to long‐term losses in the overall population.Research limitations/implications – These data ...

LAYERS OF GRIEF: COUNSELING THE SEROPOSITIVE GAY MALE

Seropositive gay men experience multiple losses in their lives resulting in layers of grief. Models of grief were not developed for people experiencing multiple losses therefore lack the capacity to help crisis workers with this population. Counseling strategies developed specifically for seropostive gay men also may not be adequate because are not crisis oriented. This paper suggests the use of the Tirage assessment Form as a means of assessing the multiple losses experienced by this population. Used in conjunction with models of grief and counseling approaches for seropositive gay men, the Triage Assessment Form helps crisis workers identify and monitor the layers of grief experienced by this population.

The historical advancement of grief counseling

Contents: Preface. E. Spinelli, Foreword. R.A. Neimeyer, Introduction. Part I: Theoretical and Methodological Positions. A. Tomer, G. Eliason, Existentialism and Death Attitudes. M. Mikulincer, V. Florian, The Complex and Multifaceted Nature of the Fear of Personal Death: The Multidimensional Model of Victor Florian. P.T.P. Wong, Meaning Management Theory and Death Acceptance. Part II: Research. J. Hart, J.L. Goldenberg, A Terror Management Perspective on Spirituality and the Problem of the Body. V.G. Cicirelli, End-of-Life Decisions: Research Findings and Implications. M. Ardelt, Wisdom, Religiosity, Purpose in Life, and Death Attitudes of Aging Adults. A. Tomer, G. Eliason, Regret and Death Attitudes. W. Dobson, P.T.P. Wong, Women Living With HIV: The Role of Meaning and Spirituality. D. Ivoncavich, P.T.P. Wong, The Role of Existential & Spiritual Coping in Anticipatory Grief. G. Nouel, Construction of Meaning in the Face of Mortality. J.A. Thorson, A.M. Laughlin, The Dark Night of the Soul. Part III: Applications. I. Orbach, Existentialism and Suicide. M.B. Mannarino, G. Eliason, J. Rubin, Regret Therapy: Coping With Death and End of Life Issues. C. Morrant, J. Catlett, Separation Theory and Voice Therapy: Philosophical Underpinnings and Applications to Death Anxiety Across the Life Span. P.T.P. Wong, Transformation of Grief Through Meaning: Meaning-Centered Counseling for Bereavement. D.M. Gibson, Making Meaning of Infertility and Death Through the Use of Spirituality and Growth-Fostering Relationships in Counseling. G. Eliason, M. Lepore, R. Myer, The Evolution of Grief Counseling. A. Tomer, G. Eliason, P.T.P. Wong, Conclusion.

A population and economic comparison of Story County, Iowa following the great flood of 1993 to Cambria County, Pennsylvania following the 1977 Johnstown flood

Purpose – This article seeks to compare the effects of the 1977 Johnstown Flood on Cambria County, Pennsylvania with the effects of the Great Flood of 1993 on Story County, Iowa. The article aims to specifically compare and contrast the effects of the floods on population, per capita income, employment, education, and poverty rate.Design/methodology/approach – Statistics ranging from 1970 to 2003 were used to create an economic and population overview of Story County, Iowa and Cambria County, Pennsylvania. Short‐term and long‐term effects from the floods are compared and contrasted to reveal possible trends in population and economics.Findings – The data show that Story County IA gained population and college graduates following the Great Flood of 1993. Conversely, Cambria County, PA lost population following the 1977 Johnstown Flood. This suggests that Story County may not have lost employers and may have gained employers due to the flood.Originality/value – These data support previous research by Spence...