Art of judgment: A case study organizational analysis of the Oklahoma City Fire Department, April 19, 1995

Abstract

The author argues that stories told by managers, and the subsequent judgments they make when engaged in the actual work, arc an effective way to communicate useful knowledge to students and practitioners of public administration. The recent Oklahoma City bombing produced a massive response by many government agencies. The Oklahoma City Fire Department was on the scene early and had primary responsibility for safety and rescue. The event produced a complex set of problems for administrators and required changes in rules and procedures that had not been taken into account in planning. Using a case study approach, the author argues that adaptation to a chaotic milieu requires an understanding and appreciation of the human capacity for innovation. This is often not recognized as legitimate by traditional scientific analysis.