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The purpose of the paper is to explore the universality of a qualitatively (grounded theory) developed model of leadership in complex and/or stressful rescue operations.

The model was operationalised and tested on leaders (n=385) from the ambulance service, the police force, and the rescue services in Sweden. A questionnaire was operationalised from the codes and categories of the previously developed model.

The study showed that the most important factors in explaining the outcome of complex rescue operations were organisational climate before the incident, positive stress reactions, and personal knowledge of the co‐actors during the episode. Cases where the leader appraised that the situation could not be resolved with the available resources were characterised by less favourable ratings, irrespective of whether humans were perceived as being threatened or not. The strength of this controllability aspect was interpreted in terms of a professional action‐oriented identity.

The results were affected by a high dropout rate and the fact that there were comparatively few large‐scale rescue operations.

The results may be valuable in both training and exercises with rescue operation commanders.

The paper presents a validation of a new, integrative, theoretical process model of leadership in complex, stressful rescue operations.

The aim of this article is twofold: validation of a theoretical model of a civil contingencies agency management system, and methodological development by employing qualitative means for analysis.

The theoretical model to be validated serves as a starting point for a qualitative reanalysis of logic‐deductive character, aimed at verification of the pre‐existing theory that is already discovered and developed. Data from three previously published case studies were used as a frame of reference.

The theoretical model of a civil contingencies management system for disaster aid is validated in most respects. The qualitative testing for high trustworthiness proves reasonable with regard to selected reference studies.

The theoretical model of a civil contingencies agency management system for disaster aid was mostly confirmed and partly modified when being compared to empirical data and models from three previous case studies. Also, the qualitative approach to validating the theoretical model is, to the best knowledge of the authors, new.

The purpose of this research is to develop a theoretical understanding of indirect leadership in a severely stressful peacekeeping context, focusing on the perspective of subordinates. Peacekeeping missions in recent decades have led to increased exposure to acute danger.

Retrospective in‐depth interviews were carried out with 17 Norwegian officers and soldiers, who were involved in the handling of a violent riot in Kosovo during a peacekeeping mission. The interviews were analyzed using a grounded theory approach.

A model emerged with three categories: Situational Characteristics, Organizational Characteristics, and the Commander's Intent. A related core category was labelled Subordinates' Appraisal or Sensemaking. During the climax of the riot, a strict following of the ordinary chain of command was impractical. Local initiatives at lower organizational levels were needed, but these, in turn, required competence and a trustful organizational environment.

Not representative of the entire population. Given the male‐dominated military context under consideration, there could be no meaningful analysis of possible gender‐related differences. The results related to a general model of indirect leadership and specific stress. Organizational theory‐related additions and limitations are suggested.

The proposed model may be a practical tool for management education.

The study's identification of key aspects of indirect leadership in severely stressful contexts is a useful addition to the literature.

To develop a theoretical understanding of leadership in stressful, complex rescue operations.

A grounded theory approach was used. Twenty rescue operation commanders from four complex rescue operations in Sweden were interviewed.

A model was developed which suggests that leadership in stressful, complex rescue operations can be understood as a causal process consisting of three broad time‐related categories. The pre‐operation everyday working conditions affect the leadership during rescue operations, which in turn affects the post‐operation everyday working conditions, etc. Everyday working conditions include training and exercises, previous mission experiences, personal knowledge of co‐actors, and organisational climate. The leadership during a complex rescue operation is affected by the leader's appraisal of the balance between what is at stake, human lives in particular, and the manageability of the situation. Patterns of stress reactions among rescue commanders and their leadership behaviour and managerial routines, were identified. Three problem areas were noted: role shifts during long‐lasting operations, staff work, and practical routines. The post‐operation conditions include the leader's evaluation of the outcome, organisational climate, and post‐event stress reactions.

Small sample, lack of representativeness, and lack of illumination of possible gender‐related aspects.

The model may be valuable in training and exercises with rescue operation commanders.

A new integrative, theoretical process model of leadership in complex, stressful rescue operations.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the applicability of a previously developed model of indirect leadership (qualitative Grounded Theory case study) in a broader military context.

The model was operationalised to specific questionnaires for high‐level managers, middle‐level managers, and lower‐level employees. Data were obtained from 147 Norwegian and 134 Swedish military officers, representing all three levels, and serving in the Army and Air Force respectively.

The theoretical model of indirect leadership was partly supported. Higher importance was attributed to image‐oriented top‐down influence, rather than to action‐oriented influence via directly subordinate commanders, which may be understood using developmental, transformational, and authentic leadership formulations. Meaningful patterns of subgroup differences were obtained.

Indirect leadership is complex and bottom‐up influences were not taken into account, not all aspects of the top‐down influence process were covered, only military contexts were studied, and no meaningful analysis of possible gender‐related differences was possible in this male‐dominated context.

The obtained support of the theoretical model legitimises its use as a tool in higher military management education and coaching.

The measurement tools of indirect leadership and the quantitatively based support of a Grounded Theory model with a how‐focus on indirect leadership.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a deeper theoretical understanding of a civil contingencies agency that, as part of its ordinary task, executes humanitarian aid and rescue operations following disasters in an international milieu, from a management perspective.

The approach taken is a qualitative interview study using a grounded theory approach to analysis.

A theoretical model was developed consisting of a hierarchical system of codes, categories, and superior categories. One superior category labelled underlying conditions consists of factors influencing the operative organisation abroad, such as political rule, availability of financiers, and the everyday activities of the organisation. Another superior category labelled the operation contains the dimension of time (before, during, and after the operation). Two core variables underlying rationale and resource structure of the operation were identified, whereby underlying rationale may be efficiency and humanity‐related, whilst the resource structure of the operation consists of person‐related qualities and physical, administrative, and material‐logistic‐related qualities. A cross‐tabulation of these two core variables is the most developed part of the model.

In terms of providing evidence, the theoretical model has limited value, as it has been developed through a qualitative grounded theory approach. Thus, there is a need to test its universal applicability.

The findings may serve as a starting point for a better understanding of civil contingencies agencies from a management perspective and as such provide a theoretical instrument of analysis for improved humanitarian aid and rescue operations.

The theoretical model of a civil contingencies agency management system for disaster aid executing humanitarian aid and rescue operations within the frames of supranational or international organisations in an international milieu is new and can be regarded as a context‐specific contribution to complex system theory of organisations.

To develop a theoretical understanding of how indirect leadership is done in a military context.

A grounded theory approach was used. Twenty‐two high‐level Swedish commanders, and six of their subordinates were interviewed.

A model was developed which suggests that indirect leadership can be understood as consisting of two simultaneous processes. One is action‐oriented and consists of interacting with a link (usually a small group of directly subordinate managers) which passes the messages down to lower organisational levels. The other influence process is image‐oriented and consists of being a role model. Both processes are filtered through a “lens” which consists of the relative impact of a safety culture on the activities. In the favourable case, the employees at the lower levels trust both the link and the higher management. This appears to be a necessary condition for commitment and active participation. In the unfavourable case, there is a lack of trust. This breeds redefinitions of the messages and a necessity for relying on reward and punishment to obtain obedience.

Lack of representativeness, indirect influence from lower to higher levels, as well as possible gender‐related aspects, not studied.

The suggested model may be a valuable tool in higher management education.

The identification of two co‐occurring pathways of influence.

The study seeks to illuminate factors that benefit, or do not benefit, the development of swift trust towards leaders in temporary military groups.

The study group comprised 50 Norwegian cadets, 34 Norwegian military officers, 317 Swedish cadets, and 190 Swedish military officers. Data were gathered using a questionnaire which included two open‐ended questions on aspects which contribute to swift trust (and lack thereof) towards leaders, as well as Likert‐scale questions on temporary group characteristics, and a personality inventory.

A qualitative clustering analysis of the open‐ended responses yielded a hierarchical model of aspects which contribute to swift trust (or the lack thereof) with the following two superior categories: individual‐related characteristics such as emotional stability and relationship‐related characteristics such as encourage involvement and creativity. The latter superior category covaried most strongly with ratings of the groups' performance.

The results need to be substantiated by further research in other professional groups and cultures.

The findings can help leaders of temporary groups become more conscious of how they may affect the group members' development of swift trust.

The hierarchical and detailed model of aspects which contribute to swift trust in leaders of temporary groups is new.

The chapter proposes a three step framework to assist in the study of technological change in historical terms, using one class of technology, computational devices and computers, to illustrate the approach. Step one explores the economic dynamics of computing to demonstrate the value of studying a specified technology to gain insights about other forms of technologies. Second step attempts an understanding of users and historians respond to the issue of change. Finally, a framework for studying the role of change in technology is presented. Many examples are drawn from different periods in the modern history of information processing.