Multidimensionality of risk in public safety management processes

Effective public management requires a risk-based approach. However, in the majority of cases, the theoretical rudiments of diagnosing and controlling risk in public management tend to embrace universal factors without incorporating the specific factors underlying the subsystems operating across the public sector. One such domain is public safety management systems, which involve the participation of a plethora of independent entities, each equipped with specialised but complementary competencies. The processes involved are distinguished by immense complexity and furthermore are operating in an unpredictable and volatile environment. As a result, these processes are highly susceptible to risk. There are insufficient studies devoted to the mechanisms allowing or producing these risks in the public safety management. This paper attempts to address and bridge this research gap. The aim of our investigation is to reveal the nature and sources of risk in public safety, as well as to explore the management processes which are most likely to minimize the occurrence of risk in the specific area researched.