Theories of Leadership and Emergency Management

In the 21st century, emergency management leaders must recognize and respond to birthing threats to our global society, in contrast to the past practices of rigid, bureaucratic command and control of emergency management, whereby systemic challenges through transformative processes generally lead to ineffective emergency response. This qualitative study utilizes leadership theories to explore critical perspectives in emergency management across the USA on pressing needs for vital systemic transformation. The emerging model points to 10 leadership theories central to emergency management and suggests that contextualizing leadership is significant to an organization's success.