Resilience Strategies Research Articles

Special Issue on The Resilience Research Council of Japan

We are glad that this special issue takes up the activities of The Resilience Research Council of Japan (RRCJ). Twelve years have passed since the founding of the RRCJ. In addition to regular meetings at which experts from various fields participate in disseminating information, one of the RRCJ’s main activities is holding study groups to delve deeply into specific aspects of disaster preparedness. To respond to the intensification and frequent occurrence of disasters in recent years, it is urgent to review existing measures against disasters and business continuity plans (BCPs). Furthermore, comprehensive and flexible strategies should be developed to enhance disaster resilience. Each study in this special issue provides new perspectives and clues on this problem. First, the existing BCPs lack concrete measures from the perspectives of individual corporate departments and employees. To tackle this problem, new procedures are proposed to formulate BCPs based on the questions “What if?” and “What when?” This is expected to increase the effectiveness of BCPs. Second and third, comprehensive methods for evaluating resilience are lacking. As a result of an examination of the 13 current indexes of “Resilient Organizations” and the “Organization Resilience Index” of the British Standards Institution, it is revealed that some important elements are absent from the evaluation of corporate resilience. By complementing the corporate resilience model with these elements, the model can be improved. Furthermore, local governments must implement effective disaster countermeasures for those with limited resources in their disaster management plans. The fourth study evaluates disaster management measures from the point of view of both local governments and residents, and proposes innovative solutions to collaborate and organize, adapt to the environment, and manage for the next generation. This reveals the problems faced by local governments and residents’ lack of knowledge, and provides a roadmap for future improvements. Overall, these studies indicate that creating a resilience strategy involving all stakeholders is an urgent matter, provide valuable insight into the limits of current strategies, and offer guidelines for strengthening the important aspects of resilience so that corporations and local governments can respond to disasters more effectively. We expect that the effectiveness of disaster measures will be enhanced through incorporating these proposals and methods into practical policies and actual works. We sincerely thank all the contributors for their contributions to this special issue and the reviewers for their valuable comments.

Resilient business strategies in the German hospitality industry and its viability

This study aimed to investigate the German hospitality industry to find out which resilient business strategies operational managers applied during the COVID-19 pandemic and which are considered viable for the future. Drawing on a multiple case study approach, semi-structured online expert interviews were conducted with twelve operational managers from certain sectors of the German hospitality industry. A manual qualitative content analysis was applied to analyse data and to identify resilient business strategies for the COVID-19 pandemic through an iterative coding process. The study results show that operational managers applied diverse resilient business strategies within six areas: grocery shopping, food processing and menu planning, work environment and workplace, guest and customer world, marketing and sales concepts and under prospective perspectives. The business strategies are resilient, as operational managers responded to the crisis in a situation- and organisation-specific manner and implemented transformative business activities. This study provides valuable insights for organisations, managers and practitioners in the different hospitality industry sectors by identifying resilient business strategies in times of crisis. It also highlights what business strategies are considered viable for the future, which could thus serve as a blueprint for the hospitality industry.

Self-Healing Control of Nuclear Power Plants Under False Data Injection Attacks

The transition from analog to digital instrumentation and control (I&C) systems introduces new threats caused by cyberattacks in the nuclear industry. This paper proposes a self-healing strategy to respond to a false data injection attack that targets digital I&C systems, which is a type of cyberattack commonly targeting nuclear power plants with the potential to cause serious physical impacts. This resilience strategy for self-healing control contains three components: (1) an anomaly detection model that can detect false data injection attacks, (2) a device-level control that utilizes inferred values to perform control under a detected false data injection, and (3) a system-level control that leverages another controller that is not under attack to lead the system back to a safe operation state when the device-level control is unavailable. Anomaly detection and device-level control use an autoencoder while system-level control utilizes reinforcement learning. The proposed self-healing resilience strategy is demonstrated with a generic pressurized water reactor (GPWR) simulator under false data injections, targeting the steam generator water level. The results show that the proposed strategy effectively leads the system back to a normal operation state under various false data injection cases.

Exploring the Role of Destination Resilience Plans in Promoting Tourism: A Literature Review

The study investigates the critical importance of destination resilience in enhancing tourism, particularly in the wake of challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary aim of the research is to analyze how effective governance, stakeholder engagement, resource management, and risk assessment contribute to the resilience of tourist destinations and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). To achieve this, the study employs a comprehensive literature review methodology, synthesizing existing research on destination resilience strategies and their implications for tourism promotion. The findings reveal that destination resilience plans significantly impact tourism performance, stakeholder participation, and sustainable development. Additionally, the study highlights the necessity of integrating innovative practices and technology to bolster the resilience of tourism sectors. In conclusion, this research provides valuable insights for destination management organizations, policymakers, and industry researchers, emphasizing the need for strategic planning and collaboration to foster long-term sustainability and resilience in tourism. The study serves as a foundation for future investigations and policy-making in the realm of sustainable tourism, addressing existing gaps in the literature and offering practical recommendations for enhancing destination resilience.

A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW ON COMMON CRISES IN THE EVENT BUSINESS

While the events business significantly contributes to various sectors, its inherent instability demands extra attention. The event business is considered unstable due to its susceptibility to numerous factors, including political or social issues, changing regulations, inadequate risk management, and unforeseen circumstances. Crisis, as part of unforeseen external factors, stands out as a prominent and threatening force. This study systematically reviews common crises in the events business by synthesizing and analysing relevantresearch and scholarly articles. Through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), a systematic review protocol, this study ended up with a content analysis of 14 academic papers focused on various event-related crises. Followed by thematic coding, the study reveals that different countries may face unique crisis situations. The study emphasizes the critical importance of quick and strategic planning for managing crises, encompassing unforeseen events like COVID-19, terroristattacks, shark incidents, and earthquakes. Effective crisis management plans are essential for event organizations to navigate future challenges and enhance resilience. Regardless of location, event planners must prioritize crisis management and resilience strategies to safeguard the benefits of the events business. This systematic review paper provides valuable insights into common crisis issues, their impacts on the event industry, essential responses to crises, and practical strategies employed by event planners. It also serves as an invaluable resource for professionals in the field.

RABIES: UNITING FOR ONE HEALTH - PROTECTING HUMANS AND ANIMALS TOGETHER

This review article elucidates the intricate dynamics of rabies and its effects in the context of a persistent global threat using the One Health approach. This article emphasizes the inescapable link between human, animal, and environmental health by clarifying the complex mechanisms of rabies transmission, elaborating on its symptoms and course, and demonstrating its global occurrence and impact. This article highlights the crucial importance of zoonotic diseases, notably the reservoir role of animals in rabies transmission, and embraces the idea of One Health, which recognizes the symbiotic interactions between these domains. This study highlights the significance of unified control and surveillance systems from a strategic perspective. This emphasizes the value of vaccination as a cornerstone for safeguarding both human and animal populations. Additionally, it highlights the potential of interdisciplinary One Health initiatives to eradicate rabies through successful case studies. This article sheds light on the crucial role of international organizations, the significance of policy advocacy, strict regulation, and international cooperation while addressing socioeconomic consequences, implementation challenges, and the goals of a rabies-free world. Interdisciplinary research has emerged as a catalyst to develop innovative prevention and control methods that are strengthened by technology, shared knowledge, and resilient strategies to combat the effects of climate change and emerging diseases. Public engagement, education, and community empowerment should be implemented to establish a proactive approach to rabies prevention. It concludes with a loud appeal for coordinated One Health initiatives to build a safer future in the face of this ongoing issue.

Profiling disaster risk management research: A bibliometric analysis

Background: Disaster risk management is essential to mitigate the adverse impacts of disasters and ensure sustainable development. This study explores the importance of disaster information management and integrating information and communication technologies in crisis management strategies. It emphasizes the role of technologies, such as location-based systems and big data analytics, in reducing disaster losses. Methods: This study uses a qualitative descriptive approach to understand the social and cultural context by analyzing documents from various sources such as papers, regulations, and academic literature. Data collection techniques were library review, 957 relevant documents, and a minimal keyword search on Scopus, resulting in 44 journal articles discussed in the public administration and governance framework. The articles included journals indexed from Google Scholar to WOS and Scopus and nationally accredited journals. Findings: This study underscores the importance of disaster resilience strategies, especially in urban areas vulnerable to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and floods due to inadequate urban planning. Furthermore, this study examines international efforts to integrate disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation into sustainable development frameworks, including UN initiatives. Conclusions: This comprehensive analysis highlights the global relevance of disaster risk management and its implications for policy and community resilience. Novelty/Originality of this study: Research on disaster risk management integrates the latest information and communication technologies, such as location-based systems and big data analytics, into crisis management strategies. This provides a new approach to disaster mitigation.

Public policies on sustainable flood risk management: Study cases of the Netherlands and Malawi

Background: This study compares flood management strategies in Malawi and the Netherlands, emphasizing their respective advantages and disadvantages. The Netherlands is renowned globally for its flood defense, prioritizing prevention, stakeholder involvement, and nature-based solutions through sophisticated infrastructure and proactive approaches. However, future challenges may arise from economic expansion and climate change pressures. In contrast, Malawi, despite having fewer resources, is making strides with its National Resilience Strategy, focusing on risk mitigation, sustainable agriculture, and early warning systems to combat flooding and hunger vulnerabilities. Yet, it faces significant issues with financing, management, and the long-term sustainability of community-based projects. Methods: This study utilized bibliometric analysis and a Systematic Literature Review (SLR), employing a comparative approach to evaluate Malawian and Dutch public policies on flooding disasters. The aim was to identify similarities and differences in their approaches to flood risk management. Findings: The Netherlands’ proactive flood management strategy, characterized by advanced infrastructure and integrated policy frameworks, is a model for high-capacity settings. Its emphasis on nature-based solutions and stakeholder engagement further strengthens its resilience. Malawi's approach, while resource-constrained, shows promise through its National Resilience Strategy, which targets risk reduction, sustainable agricultural practices, and robust early warning systems. Nevertheless, Malawi continues to grapple with financing, effective management, and the sustainability of its flood risk mitigation initiatives. Conclusion: The experiences of the Netherlands and Malawi illustrate the need for continuous policy adaptation and the challenges of managing flood risks in diverse socioeconomic contexts. This research clarifies the relative benefits of different flood control strategies and emphasizes the importance of tailored approaches to address the complexities of flood dangers. Both countries demonstrate the ongoing need for regulatory reform to enhance flood risk mitigation efforts. Novelty/Originality of this Study: This study uniquely compares the flood risk management policies of Malawi and the Netherlands, highlighting the differences between a developing nation's reactive, community-focused approach and a developed country's proactive, infrastructure-intensive strategy. By analyzing their respective strengths and weaknesses, it identifies potential improvements and opportunities for both nations to enhance their flood management and resilience.

Examining the Interplay Between Preexposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Gender-Related Stigmas as Barriers for PrEP Uptake Among Transgender Women in Tijuana, Mexico: A Mixed-Methods Study.

HIV prevalence among transgender women (TW) in Tijuana, Mexico is estimated at 22%. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) reduces the risk of HIV acquisition by > 90%, though uptake in Tijuana has been low due to limited availability. The interplay between PrEP and gender stigmas may also serve as a barrier to PrEP uptake among TW in Tijuana. Experiences of gender- and PrEP- stigmas were assessed quantitatively (Quan) among 110 HIV-negative TW and qualitatively (Qual) among 17 TW through semi-structured interviews guide by the Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework. Qual findings were triangulated with Quant data to identify factors that may support gender affirmation and reduce PrEP stigma in an explanatory sequential Quan → Qual fashion. Most participants were < 40 years of age (80%), while approximately half had at least a high school education (48.2%) and were accessing gender-affirming hormone therapy (56.4%). Mean expectations of gender stigma were greatest for endorsing negative future expectations from others (M = 17.69; possible range 0-36). PrEP stigma was prominent among those who associated negative stereotypes with PrEP users, such as poor judgment (M = 45.91; possible range 14-70) and high personal risk attributes (M = 28.61; possible range 12-60). While PrEP knowledge was low among the qualitative sample, participants identified gender-, PrEP-, and intersectional- stigmas as potential barriers to PrEP uptake. Participants suggested that resilience strategies used to combat gender stigma could also mitigate PrEP stigma. Enhancing resilience skills at the intersection of gender and PrEP stigma may reduce these barriers, facilitating greater PrEP uptake as it becomes more available in Mexico.

Analyzing Strategies for Climate Resilience: An ISM MICMAC Approach with a Focus on Sustainable Development

In every sector, climate change necessitates proactive strategies that can enhance adaptability. The urgency for efficient frameworks that minimize risks and increase adaptation is further underscored by extreme weather events. In this study, we use Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and MICMAC (Cross-Impact Matrix Multiplication Applied to Classification) techniques to investigate the extent of alignment between strategies for building climate resilience and sustainable development goals. This research seeks to comprehend how various measures combine to ensure a society’s resilience and sustainability. A model showing relationships between key strategies is developed using ISM. MICMAC analysis splits these strategies into clusters based on their influence or dependence as well as informs about which strategy has more impacts compared to others in terms of implementation priority. None of the recovery actions fell under ‘Autonomous Variables’ implying their absolute relevance in boosting climatic resilience. However, there are some other variables, such as Carbon Capture &amp; Storage (CCS), Electric Vehicles (EVs), Forest Restoration (FR), Green Manufacturing (GM), etc., which were found to be linkage variables in this system. They build interconnections within the rest of the system. Climate Resilience (CR) was thus identified as the sole dependent variable since none met this criterion better than all others, thereby arguing for a comprehensive approach on how best to integrate these with one another to work best together. Independent variables, including Environment (Env.), Transportation (Trans), Industry (Ind), and Carbon Sequestration (CS) were found to have the highest driving power, serving as key drivers for achieving climate resilience. The study outlines different strategies and their implementation to achieve the objective of climate resilience. The study provides concrete, evidence-based policy recommendations to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Strengthening independent variables and enhancing linkage strategies can have a cascading positive effect, significantly improving climate resilience. The study emphasizes the significance of a cohesive, multi-dimensional approach, informed decision-making, and strategic focus to ensure a sustainable and resilient future. The work presents a clear strategy for implementing climate resilience measures for policymakers, stakeholders, and practitioners.

Navigating Uncharted Territory: A post Covid-19 Exploration of the Resilience of Women Owned Small Businesses in the Wake of the Pandemic

Resilience has long been acknowledged in the literature as a crucial aspect of the entrepreneur's character and personality. Additionally, it is acknowledged as a vital component of the entrepreneurial process that propels businesses to great outcomes. However, to the researchers’ knowledge, there remains limited understanding regarding how women-owned small businesses in South Africa withstand and function during challenging social and economic crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. In the post-modern period we live in today, women will inevitably play an important part in business and economic development, and they are eager to become involved and make a difference in their communities. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the challenges faced by female entrepreneurs in growing their businesses. This research focuses on investigating how resilient South African women entrepreneurs have been in response to the pandemic. Drawing from resilience theory, the study employed a qualitative approach to gather and analyze data from a group of 15 women entrepreneurs based in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, using thematic analysis. The following four themes emerged from the findings; business agility; optimistic outlook; leveraged digital technology; and business networks. This research enhances existing resilience theory by integrating fresh insights gathered from the resilience strategies employed by female entrepreneurs in times of crisis. Results from the study are also expected to contribute to sustaining South African women owned small businesses and empowering their resilience, despite adversities.

Resilient pursuit evasion guidance with feedback game strategy

This paper proposed a resilient guidance strategy for planar pursuit evasion, in which the homing guidance problem is formulated as a Stackelberg game. As is known, the most salient challenge for pursuit evasion guidance is how to ensure an interception despite both players (i.e., missile and target) actively optimize their own interest with preferably incomplete information. Toward this, we introduce a game-theoretic guidance strategy that effectively integrates incentive feedback strategy into pursuit evasion game. In particular, the proposed resilient guidance law takes the form of Stackelberg game conjecture with missile/interceptor as the designated leader, and rigorously proves that leader's interest can be best served with a properly designed feedback gain, and an interception can be made possible in spite of incomplete knowledge on target's intentions (i.e., performance index). Simulation results verify the performance of the proposed strategy.

Determinants of parental quality of life and resilience: a study of families with neurodevelopmentally disordered children

Objectives The current study examined the factors that influence quality of life (QoL) and resilience of parents of children with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (NDDs) in Ghana. Methods Using a cross-sectional design, we recruited 152 parents from support groups and schools training children with NDDs in the Accra Metropolis of Ghana. Participants responded to the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), Wagnild & Young Resilience Scale, WHO Quality of Life Measure Abbreviated version (WHOQOL-BREF), and the Brief Coping Inventory used to measure psychological distress, resilience, QoL, and coping respectively. Results Using an advanced analytical approach, results revealed both direct and mediation effects of psychological variables on QoL and resilience. Moreover, a direct effect of resilience on QoL was observed. Conclusions The findings of the current study provide insight into the resilience and QoL in parents of children with NDDS and how healthcare professionals can develop tailored interventions on coping and resilient strategies to improve the QoL of parents and their children.

Place-Based Arts Engagement and Learning Histories: An Effective Tool for Climate Action

ABSTRACT Artistic works informed by the global climate emergency are now common. Yet research typically focuses on the role of art in climate communication, rather than evaluating opportunities for large-scale public art to drive climate action and behavioral change amongst audiences. Indeed, arts, culture, and heritage are poorly integrated into Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) even though understanding whether, and how, art drives community engagement with climate issues is crucial for pursuing meaningful adaptation and resilience strategies. This paper addresses these research gaps, drawing on the evaluation of FloodLights, a series of multimedia art installations exploring experiences of living with water past/present/future in Kingston-Upon-Hull, UK, shown in October 2021. Key findings demonstrate that FloodLights empowered audience members to engage in climate and water action. Emotional responses to the installations drove engagement amongst audience members and inspired behavior change. Feedback from respondents demonstrates specific ways in which increased awareness of water and flooding issues is coupled with tangible connections to family and community. We demonstrate that arts-based interventions are effective in raising climate awareness and changing behaviors, and demonstrate that local communities have profound connections to their watery histories and identities, driving even greater impact in the future.

Comparing resilience strategies for a multistage green supply chain to mitigate disruptions: A two-stage stochastic optimization model

Supply chain disruptions, notably exemplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, have substantial impacts, requiring effective resilience strategies. This study introduces a comprehensive multi-stage, multi-period green supply chain design model, incorporating six resilience strategies to tackle downstream and upstream disruptions. A rigorous two-stage stochastic optimization approach is employed to manage parameter uncertainties and disruptions. The objectives include minimizing disruption costs and CO2 emissions, for a chain that operates under cap-and-trade emission regulation. The findings, derived from a numerical experiment and sensitivity analysis, offer the optimal supply chain structure and effective resilience strategies to mitigate disruptions. The demand structure for essential and non-essential products during disruptions are explored, emphasizing proactive resource allocation. In particular, the impact of facility capacity reductions underscores the importance of capacity management. Sensitivity analyses reflect the trade-offs involved in capacity management strategies, emphasizing the critical need to maintain an optimal level of capacity to prevent service level degradation. Additionally, examination of carbon abatement regulations reveals the intricate balance between environmental responsibility and economic efficiency. In summary, this study addresses supply chain disruptions and offers actionable insights for supply chain managers and policy makers. The research highlights the importance of specific and data-driven resilience strategies to optimize supply chain performance in face of disruptions.

Resilient energy management strategy in smart residential buildings considering price attack: An aggregative game perspective

Smart building techniques have drawn considerable attention for the potential to accommodate renewable energy resources and achieve local energy sustainability. However, information privacy, growing number of users and vulnerability of communication channels have led to energy management and cyber-security issues. In this paper, a cyber-attack resilient energy management system for smart residential buildings is proposed. An aggregative game is formulated to describe the non-cooperative interactions among smart buildings that are coupled through dynamic electricity pricing. The existence of the variational equilibrium is analyzed theoretically. Moreover, a semi-decentralized algorithm is employed to attain the equilibrium solution without disclosing private information of individual buildings. To detect potential price attacks, a cyber-attack detection mechanism is proposed by comparing the predicted and actual electricity costs and exchanged power based on the long short-term memory network model. Numerical simulations demonstrate the performance of the semi-decentralized algorithm in term of convergence speed and robustness against disturbances. Additionally, the effectiveness of the resilient energy management strategy is investigated.

Optimizing urban ecosystems through green and blue infrastructure: Strategies for sustainability, resilience, and justice

This article examines the roles of Green and Blue Infrastructures (GBIs) in enhancing urban sustainability, resilience, and environmental justice. It highlights how GBIs promote biodiversity, reduce pollution, and increase climate resilience through integrating technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and digital twinning. These innovations improve the management and operational efficiency of urban planning. The study emphasizes the socio-economic and health benefits provided by GBIs, which incorporate natural elements into urban areas to foster environmental equity and resource accessibility. Advanced technological interventions are crucial for optimizing GBI functionality, ensuring urban environments are resilient and sustainable. The paper advocates for a holistic approach involving community engagement and policy reforms to distribute GBI benefits equitably, aiming to create urban ecosystems that are environmentally sound, socially just, and economically viable.

An investigation into resilience strategies in the medical tourism supply chain

An investigation into resilience strategies in the medical tourism supply chain

A qualitative inquiry into the oppression experienced by Australian transgender and gender expansive teens

Background Transgender and gender expansive (TGE) teens in Australia face significant challenges due to oppression, yet limited research focuses on the psychological and social impacts on this demographic. Aim To investigate the impact of oppression on the psychological well-being and social experiences of TGE teens in Australia. Method Sixteen participants aged 14–17 were recruited through online platforms (e.g. Instagram) and organizations across Australia. Individual online semi-structured interviews lasting 60–120 min were conducted. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, utilizing both inductive and deductive reasoning, was employed to analyze the narratives. The study adhered to ethical protocols approved by the Institutional Review Board. Results Two superordinate themes emerged from the analysis: (1) oppression and psychological well-being, and (2) navigating social constraints and self-expression. The findings highlight the influence of oppressive experiences (e.g. misgendering, transphobia, and lack of support) on mental health (e.g. suicidal ideation, addiction, depression) and behaviors (e.g. delayed gender identification). Despite these challenges, participants demonstrated resilience (e.g. self-advocacy) to navigate oppressive environments. Conclusion This study adds to prior research by highlighting the nuanced impacts of misgendering, transphobia, and lack of support, illustrating how these experiences contribute to a range of mental health issues and challenges in self-esteem and identity development. Despite potential limitations in self-reporting and sample size, the study offers valuable perspectives on the resilience and adaptive strategies employed by TGE teens. Future research should delve into the intersectionality of these experiences, the long-term effects of oppression, and the efficacy of targeted interventions.

Fostering Resilience in Palestinian Higher Education: Strategies for Effective Management and Progressive Transformation

This research explores how Palestinian universities have shown resilience and implemented strategies to overcome challenges caused by the occupation. It delves into the leadership-led reforms in engineering, law, and medicine within these institutions through in-depth interviews with program deans. The study highlights how faculty members adjust curricula, teaching techniques, and program frameworks to tackle obstacles and address changing needs. Key strategies identified for resilience include flexibility, investment in staff development, fostering international partnerships, and effective management practices. Progress in achieving gender equality and the successful global careers of graduates are noted as signs of effective management. By embracing pedagogy and community involvement, these universities demonstrate the power of higher education in conflict zones. They navigate adversity by encouraging critical thinking and social accountability, showcasing the potential for education to drive change during times of conflict. The insights gained from this research offer lessons for institutions confronting similar sociopolitical challenges while emphasizing the significance of resilience, adaptability, and effective management during crises.