TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding practical challenges to risk and vulnerability assessments
T2 - the case of Swedish municipalities
AU - Cedergren, Alexander
AU - Hedtjärn Swaling, Vidar
AU - Hassel, Henrik
AU - Denward, Carl
AU - Mossberg Sonnek, Karin
AU - Albinsson, Pär Anders
AU - Bengtsson, Johan
AU - Sparf, Anna
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - Assessing risks and vulnerabilities in the multifaceted context of a municipality is challenging. There is a plethora of methods and tools to support this task. However, to achieve successful outcomes from Risk and Vulnerability Assessments (RVAs), merely applying theoretically and technically rigorous methods is far from enough; the question of how a method is implemented in a practical context is crucial for reaching intended outcomes. In this paper, we broaden the scope, from a strict consideration of technical and methodological matters, to a presentation of the more elusive challenges in accomplishing RVAs that are actually useful in a local context. We conduct and contrast two independent studies that were aimed at identifying general challenges in achieving a successful RVA process in Swedish municipalities. Based on the findings, we argue that there is a need for a considerably increased focus on municipal practices and on the implementation of methods in the practical context. Knowledge and understanding of such practical challenges are pivotal for efforts aimed at both developing methods for RVA and improving the entire RVA process.
AB - Assessing risks and vulnerabilities in the multifaceted context of a municipality is challenging. There is a plethora of methods and tools to support this task. However, to achieve successful outcomes from Risk and Vulnerability Assessments (RVAs), merely applying theoretically and technically rigorous methods is far from enough; the question of how a method is implemented in a practical context is crucial for reaching intended outcomes. In this paper, we broaden the scope, from a strict consideration of technical and methodological matters, to a presentation of the more elusive challenges in accomplishing RVAs that are actually useful in a local context. We conduct and contrast two independent studies that were aimed at identifying general challenges in achieving a successful RVA process in Swedish municipalities. Based on the findings, we argue that there is a need for a considerably increased focus on municipal practices and on the implementation of methods in the practical context. Knowledge and understanding of such practical challenges are pivotal for efforts aimed at both developing methods for RVA and improving the entire RVA process.
KW - practical challenges
KW - risk and vulnerability assessment
KW - Risk assessment
KW - Swedish municipalities
KW - vulnerability assessment
U2 - 10.1080/13669877.2018.1485169
DO - 10.1080/13669877.2018.1485169
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85057532176
SN - 1366-9877
VL - 22
SP - 782
EP - 795
JO - Journal of Risk Research
JF - Journal of Risk Research
IS - 6
ER -