Fire Service Management - Research Proposal Example

Fire Management Research Fire Management Research 1 Abstract: 1 Introduction: 1 Research question: 2 Research Methodology: 3 Questionnaire: 4 Research Limitations: 4 Costs and Timings: 5 Data Analysis: 6 Measures suggested by the paper: 7 Reference: 8 8 Abstract: In the following paper there shall be conducted a detailed discussion on the type of fire service management that should be adopted by a retail business where there is a lot of public space and the chances of damage are high both materialistically as well as to human lives. The paper will look at developing a discussion on the type of management strategy that will be adopted by such a business to ensure safety is maintained to the maximum. Introduction: There has been seen that there has been experienced a multitude growth in the working sector due to which different areas of operations have become more open to the risks of breach. Due to this there can be seen that the need and demand for society has increased to a high level. There has been seen that there has been developed a high level of security section in every multi-corporation around the world. In fact all the various corporations and organizations, no matter how big or small have adopted various steps to ensure that there is maintenance of security. This holds especially true in the case of those organizations that work in the public service sector, especially malls and retail businesses. There has to be ensured that the security management that is developed for such a system is in sync with the various needs of the place and the people. In the following paper there shall be a detailed discussion on the development of such a system, which will look at the various needs of the people and businesses, through the conduction of a survey. Research question: At the beginning of the project, before the whole research for the paper is conducted, there has to be identified and established the aims that the paper is looking to fulfil and achieve. This will help ensure that the paper is developed in sync with these and there are no diversions while the research is being conducted, as the topic that is under observation is a diverse one, and there can be a number of factors that can be studied. The aims that the paper aims to fulfil in the following desertion include: To look at the various areas that are required to be developed while establishing a fire management scheme To ensure that the system that is developed is economic in nature To ensure that the system that is set up looks at the protection of the people as well as the materials as it is to be developed for a public forum such as a mall or a retail shop. These are the various aims that the dissertation looks to fulfil through the discussion that is undertaken so as to ensure that a suitable management for the risk of fire that is faced by a retail business is addressed adequately and accommodated. Research Methodology: It has to be realised that the choice of the method of research that is adopted while conducting any research is of out most importance as it allows for the researcher to develop a directive and holistic paper. In the following dissertation the method of research that has been adopted and implemented is that of qualitative research. The methodology that has been adopted here for practical speculations, and thus it has supported the qualitative methodology has been chosen. In qualitative research the emphasis is given over the varied inquiries. These inquiries crosscut the disciplines and the related subject matters in a very diagnostic way. Qualitative research targets to gather a determined in-depth understanding in relation to the preferences made by human behaviour and all those reasons justify the preferences. It is a process that derives the consequences that results from human behaviour and instincts. It supports the research with reliable reasons that held behind the aspects of selected groups of human behaviours. In a very simple way, qualitative methodology investigates the resources and the results derived from the decision making proceedings for a particular query. The research is based on collected samples that are further categorised as derived data and in peculiar into patterns. These data are the primary basis for deciding over the organising as well as reporting results in reference to the selected research. This paper makes qualitative research a typical kind of foregrounding process for determining the predetermined objectives. Questionnaire: The questionnaire that is prepared will be divided in two parts. The first part of the paper will look into the personal information of those who are being interviewed, while the second half of the question will ask questions pertaining to the details about the security management that is in place and the problems that have been faced in the past (Cazemier, Jacques A.; Overbeek, Paul L.; Peters, Louk M 2000). There can also be questions that will be asked pertaining to the fires that have been experienced in the past, if any and the various changes that have been experienced with the development of technology. Research Limitations: Just like other studies of this form, this study also has its limitations. The most notable limitation in the study is existence of method bias.  Because of the use of a single questionnaire for collecting the data, the relationships, which exist between constructs under study, may be rather inflated. In addition to this, it was noted that there exists a lot of apathy towards participation in research. This is possibly explained by the fact that there are many studies carried given the fact that evacuation is part of the growing genre of disaster management studies. This would naturally lead to increasing interest and hence many studies in the recent past that have all focused on some part of the effective evacuation process aimed at the construction of the perfect evacuation plan. Because of the negative attitude, there were relatively low return rates of the questionnaires, leading to a possible compromise on the reliability of the research findings.     Costs and Timings: The research would be completed over a period of six months. It would require a collection of five volunteers, for the work of case study collection (facts, figures and data analysis), data formulation and collection. This would mean that even if the questions are circulated online, one would have to gather a tam of some experts in the field as respondents if the study has to have any credibility. The study would also need the usage of five computers and two printers. The total cost of the research in terms of travel costs, library usage, travel and miscellaneous expenses would be about $5000. Data Analysis: The facts that accidents are a possibility in almost all security measures that are formulated are important. Thus, there are in place certain infrastructural facilities that are usually set up to ensure that in case something happens the situation can be tackled in a systematic and organised manner to ensure minimal damage to property and life. In the retail shops or malls there has to be ensured that there exists emergency exits that are strategically placed to ensure safe exit of the public in case of emergencies (Dinsmore P C 2005). If a fire broke out in the shops then there are a number of activities that need to be coordinated. Firstly, the fire alarms have to be sounded so that the public is aware of the impending danger. The authorities have to be informed to ensure that help is on the way so that the fire can be extinguished. Then security personnel have to be deployed to the area where the fire has broken out to ensure that the public is directed towards the exits in an orderly fashion. Continuous announcements should be made to ensure that there is continuous communication with the public and the authorities. The whole employee base should be made aware of the situation including the board members (Pulford G W). There also has to be ensured that the fire extinguishers are used by the security personnels to ensure that minimal damages are done to the property. If lifts are available, then these should be shut down and stairs should only be used. There should be ensured that the whole area is vacated by the public as well as by the employees and the authorities are bought in to control the fire and extinguish it. After that there should be conducted a detailed study to access the reason for the breaking out of the fire and if it is due to technical reasons, the whole retailing institution should be checked to ensure that the system is secure and chances of fires breaking out are minimal (Sandi J D, Million R). Measures suggested by the paper: There have been a number of measures that have been suggested by the paper to ensure that these fires can be contained in case of an emergency. These have been enlisted below: The first important measure that has been enumerated in the paper is that there has to be ensured that there is installed in place the system of sprinklers which are sensitive to smoke so as to ensure that in case of even the smallest of fire or smoke problem the sprinklers are activated, and the fire can be contained (Noor K B M, 2008). The next important measure that has been enumerated by the paper is that while developing and building of the shops the materials that should be used should be more resistant to the hazards of fire instead of the easily combustible materials that are made use of at the present (Sui D Z, 2008). The paper also advocates the use of fire alarms and emergency light system so that the people can be directed and made aware of the problems that are being faced at the slightest chance of any problems that may be faced. This is advocated to ensure that the system that is developed is more advanced and sensitive to the human factor (Creswell, J.W, 2009). The paper has also made the recommendation of the use of the Fire rated doors to help ensure that the fire is contained and to ensure that the fire is prevented from spreading and causing minimal damage to the people as well as the property of the shops. Reference: Cazemier, Jacques A.; Overbeek, Paul L.; Peters, Louk M 2000: Security Management, Stationery Office. Creswell, J.W. (2009). Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approach. NY: Sage Publications.  Dinsmore P C 2005: The Right Projects done right!, pp 35-69. Noor K B M, 2008, Case Study: A Strategic Research Methodology, pub, American Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol. 5 No.11, pp1602-1604, 2008 Pulford G W: High Security Mechanical Locks, an Encyclopaedia Reference. Sandi J D, Million R: security Supervision: theory and practice of asset protection. Sui D Z, 2008, Geospatial technologies and homeland security, pub, Springer Books, p220 Read More