The use of Social Media in Knowledge Integration for Improving Disaster Emergency Management Task Performance: Review of Flood Disasters

Abstract

Objectives: The main purpose of this study is to investigate the use of social media in knowledge integration for effective disaster emergency management in context of flood disaster. Methods/Statistical Analysis: The study used literature review methodology which involves a thorough literature search into three databases including Emerald, Science Direct and AISEL. Search keywords used were social media, social networking and disaster management or emergency management. Full text research articles published between 2010 and 2015 were included. Quality assessment criteria were set to determine what to include and exclude for this study. 22 papers were identified as potential units for analysis. Findings: The findings have shown that only a limited study had been undertaken in the use of social media for knowledge integration. Also, there is lack of knowledge towards investigating empirically the intricate and dynamic nature of crisis management operations and to determine how knowledge coordination can assist managers in enhancing emergency management task performance. The review of 22 final selected papers has indicated that there is scope for more significant research within three major areas. Firstly, there is an urgent need for Information System researchers to conduct more research regarding the application of social media in disaster situations. Secondly, only one paper has clearly outlined the use of social media within knowledge integration, despite the success of social media within disaster management. Finally, more research is required in order to better understand the determinants of knowledge integration within the context of emergency/disaster management. Application/Improvements: An innovative aspect of the research was a comprehensive look at the relationship between knowledge integration and social media as a new technology in context of emergency management performance.