The Role of Expert and Lay Knowledge in Understanding and Managing Risk - Essay Example

?The role of expert and lay knowledge in understanding and managing risk Affiliation: : Abstract Risk management is a sensitive and delicate issue of discussion no matter what field the risk belongs to. Proper understanding of the types of risks that can be encountered by people and also how such risks can be managed effectively and efficiently requires knowledge based on experience. This report is going to discuss the differences in the roles played by experts and also the roles played by the lay people when it comes to knowledge about risks: its understanding and also management. Recommendations will also be made on how to integrate the knowledge from these two totally different sets of people in order to finally attain proper understanding of risks and managing such risks. Introduction There are different kinds of risks all over the world and these risks need to be properly understood and managed in order to avoid disasters or even catastrophes from taking place. Experts in the risk management departments of different fields have been inculcated with this knowledge of understanding those different risks present and how to manage them effectively. They also have been exposed to those risks and have therefore gathered enough experience. Their level of knowledge and experience is different from those of others with no academic credentials in risk management (Bennet, 2012, pg. 67). Lay people on the other hand have no educational qualifications or even experience to understand or handle risks in the same way like the experts. They however play different roles because some of them have had first-hand experience or what is called a one-on-one experience with disasters emanating from such risks and managed them in their own naive way but their own methods though not by the book worked. These two groups of people though taxed with the same predicaments and all of them aim at managing risks have their different ways of dealing with them. These different ways are more pronounced when the two groups of people are handling the risks separately. However, in case of joint effort to understand and handle certain risk or risks, they each play different roles to avoid role confusion and disambiguity which slows down their risk management jobs. They carry out these roles according to the experience level and also the knowledge each individual has whether it is academic or otherwise (Bennet, 2012, pg. 70). Roles of experts Handling equipment and machinery Experts who have undergone several years of academic training and knowledge inculcation into the understanding of risks and how to manage risks once they emanate or even managing risks through prevention techniques also have the knowledge of handling risk management machinery and equipment. Most of these experts include engineers, managers, people concerned with conservation, fire experts, academicians among many others. They have also been deployed to many different fields and sectors because risks can occur anywhere. The training and knowledge they have from colleges and universities includes that of handling machines like fire trucks, reading of satellite equipment, using computers and other sophisticated technological equipment to manage the risks and also get prior knowledge of the onset of any risks. They have sensors and tracking equipment and even first aid equipment necessary to manage risks once they occur among other necessary equipment and machineries. Supervisory role Since they have more experience and educational knowledge in this area, they are allocated the role of being supervisors during risk management exercises. The supervisory role is important due to the coordination of the experts and the lay people working together on the team. Their jobs are supervisors include writing reports and passing them on to higher government people concerned for the purpose of progress and also to request more resources for the exercise. These reports require prior knowledge of writing them and hence can only be written by experts. Research Experts are allocated the role of research which requires individuals with prior knowledge of the risks. The research role is important for prevention of future risks from taking place and also to suggest and design new ways of risk management and also of understanding the existing risks and other potential newer risks. The professionals and scholars in risk management are the ones called upon to carry out this role. Training As a result of the academic knowledge held by these various experts in the risk management field, they are added another role of training others for sustainability and continuity of the work. The training they give is not only action oriented but also psychologically oriented. The aspect of psychology is incorporated because the understanding and management of risks requires psychological as well as physical and cognitive preparation. Those mostly in the training are the lay people. Roles of lay people Assisting the experts Since the experts are the ones with the educational knowledge on risk management, they are the main people working on the risk management strategies while the lay people offer needed assistance. The assistance may be in terms of offering labor and other handy-man’s work, clearing the risk areas and sites (especially if the risk management job involves risky procedures) and working with the local law enforcement officers to condone off people in the project areas. They also offer their lay-man’s knowledge on how to manage these risks since they have knowledge of the geographical location and also have prior naive experience. Training on other risk management techniques Even though lay people have no academic knowledge on risk management, their naive and unsophisticated experience in that field has enabled them have unique first-hand knowledge and use of several techniques that may come in handy in case the machinery or equipment does not work or before they arrive. They can train the experts on these unique risk management techniques and a combination of both strategies and experience comes in handy. Backup people When the experts have a lot of workload or have burnout from work, the experience and knowledge of lay people come in handy to act as backup and step in on behalf of the experts. This role ensures that the risk management work will not stop or stall which can bring about more potential risks or disasters. Their little knowledge and experience in this field ensures the success of this backup role. Conclusion When the different complementary roles of these two categories of people are combined, there is guaranteed that there is an effective and efficient understanding of the risks present in different areas and also the management techniques and strategies of these risks. Even though they can work together, there exists relationship strain between the experts and the lap people with the experts sometimes refusing to work with lay people or even listen and use their suggestions because they consider themselves the elites and the ones will all the knowledge and experience. Recommendations There are several recommendations that are proposed to deal with some of the limitations of their roles. One is the recognition of the knowledge and experience that the pay people have and how they can tap into that knowledge to better the risk management work. The other is that the identification and training of lay people with most potential should be a highly prioritized issue in order to add more technical knowledge to that field and prevent labor shortage. The lay people can also be trained and incorporate in the different risk management departments and fields as volunteers, assessors and informers. More research into prevention rather than curative techniques is needed in order to further prevent disasters emanating from risks that were addressed or captured too late. Research will also enable more technology to be used in understanding risks and in risk management all over the country. Reference Bennet, S. (2012). Innovative Thinking in Risk, Crisis, and Disaster Management. New York: Gower Publishing Ltd. Read More