Does having a strong commitment matter in building sustainable networks?

Abstract

Unpredicted disasters obstruct the operation of a well-functioning network, but such a network should be resistant to the challenges of such disasters to provide successful responses. This study aims to investigate the effect of a strong commitment driven by drills on building sustainable emergency management networks during disasters. The logic of collaboration risk is embedded in the collective action dilemma; therefore, building a strong commitment is important. On the basis of an Emergency Medicine survey done in 2012 and 2013 in the Southeastern Economic Regions of Korea, the relation between strong commitment and network arrangements was examined using the Logistic Regression Quadratic Assignment Procedure analysis. The results of this study show that higher levels of strong commitment driven by exercises are more likely to result in sustainable ties. This implies that beyond the interest of creating planning networks, the means of reinforcing the degree of commitment among members of networks, such as drills, must be developed.