Chief Officer Flashcards
(214 cards)
1
Q
What does NFPA 1021 specify?
A
A series of skills to be acquired for rising through the fire officer ranks
NFPA 1021 stands for National Fire Protection Association Standard 1021.
2
Q
How many levels of fire officer does NFPA 1021 define?
A
Four levels
The levels include Fire Officer I, Fire Officer II, Fire Officer III, and Fire Officer IV.
3
Q
What is the role of Fire Officer I?
A
Generally supervises a single fire company or apparatus
Fire Officer I is often referred to as a lieutenant.
4
Q
What is the role of Fire Officer II?
A
Generally the senior non-chief officer in a larger fire department
Fire Officer II is often referred to as a captain.
5
Q
What responsibilities might a Fire Officer II have?
A
Supervisor of a multiunit fire station or in charge of a larger group performing specialized service or significant administrative section
Fire Officer II plays a crucial role in managing operations and personnel.
6
Q
What are the upper levels of supervision and leadership in a fire department as per NFPA 1021?
A
Fire Officer III and Fire Officer IV
These roles involve higher levels of responsibility and leadership within the fire department.
7
Q
What is the definition of leadership according to Kevin Kruse?
A
“Leadership is a process of social influence, which maximizes the efforts of others, towards the achievement of a goal.”
(Kruse 2013)
8
Q
What does leadership stem from?
A
Leadership stems from social influence, not authority or power.
9
Q
Does leadership require direct reports?
A
Leadership requires others, implying that they don’t need to be direct reports.
10
Q
Are personality traits or titles mentioned in Kruse’s definition of leadership?
A
There is no mention of personality traits, attributes, or even a title; there are many styles and paths to effective leadership.
11
Q
What is a requirement for leadership according to Kruse?
A
Leadership requires a goal; leaders do not influence without an intended outcome.
12
Q
What does leadership involve?
A
Leadership involves the maximization of efforts.
13
Q
What do successful leaders create?
A
Successful leaders create working environments that provide motivation, support, encouragement, praise, and course corrections.
14
Q
What aspects do successful leaders improve?
A
Successful leaders improve both individual and team effectiveness.
15
Q
What is structure in an organization?
A
A pattern of jobs and groups of jobs in an organization. Structure is an important component in individual and group behavior.
16
Q
How can structure be described?
A
It can be considered a blueprint that indicates how people, jobs, tasks, responsibilities, and the like are grouped together.
17
Q
What type of structure do most fire departments use?
A
Most fire departments are designed as a bureaucracy.
18
Q
What is a bureaucracy?
A
An administrative group set in a hierarchy of authority.
19
Q
What organizational model do many businesses use?
A
Many businesses use an organizational model that is more responsive to change and timely in initiating action. Known as an adhocracy-an organizational philosophy characterized by flexible, integrative behavior
20
Q
What is an adhocracy?
A
An organizational philosophy characterized by flexible, integrative behavior.
21
Q
What is structure in an organization?
A
A pattern of jobs and groups of jobs in an organization. Structure is an important component in individual and group behavior.
22
Q
How can structure be described?
A
It can be considered a blueprint that indicates how people, jobs, tasks, responsibilities, and the like are grouped together.
23
Q
What type of structure do most fire departments use?
A
Most fire departments are designed as a bureaucracy.
24
Q
What is a bureaucracy?
A
An administrative group set in a hierarchy of authority.
25
What organizational model do many businesses use?
Many businesses use an organizational model that is more responsive to change and timely in initiating action.
26
What is an adhocracy?
An organizational philosophy characterized by flexible, integrative behavior.
27
What is a process?
Activities that breathe life into the structure of an organization.
28
What is behavior?
Behavior is how people act and interact.
29
What does behavior involve?
Behavior involves a multidisciplinary interaction among people and their organization.
30
What do effective leaders create?
Effective leaders create a climate that enables the organization to be successful and viable over the long term.
31
What do effective leaders empower personnel to do?
Effective leaders empower personnel to be productive and successful.
32
What is the goal of developing personnel according to effective leaders?
The goal is to develop personnel to take on greater responsibility.
33
What is Vision in an organizational context?
A collaborative effort between management and labor to envision where the organization will be in the future, possibly 5, 10, 15, or 20 years ahead.
34
What supports a department's vision?
A strategic plan supports a department’s vision and outlines a timeline to accomplish tasks.
35
What is a key trait of an effective leader?
An effective leader keeps personnel focused on the bigger picture.
36
How does an effective leader manage individual efforts?
An effective leader redirects efforts as necessary to realign individual views with the department's vision.
37
What is a key trait of an effective leader?
An effective leader keeps personnel focused on the bigger picture.
38
How does an effective leader manage individual efforts?
An effective leader redirects efforts as necessary to realign individual views with the department's vision.
39
The reason an organization exists
Mission
40
What is the purpose of a mission statement?
A mission statement should capture the essence of the organization.
41
What qualities should a mission statement have?
It should be short and easy to remember.
42
What is the purpose of a mission statement?
A mission statement should capture the essence of the organization.
43
What qualities should a mission statement have?
It should be short and easy to remember.
44
Provide the purpose toward which an organization strives
Goals
45
The tasks that must be accomplished if an organization is to meet its goals and fulfill its mission
Objectives
46
What is the most basic organizational principle for a fire department?
The division of work among the operating units and their individual members.
47
How does the organization of fire departments vary?
The organization of fire departments varies depending on the size and population of the communities they serve.
48
What is the concept of unity of command?
Unity of command refers to the principle that each employee should report to only one manager to avoid confusion and ensure clear direction.
49
What is the concept of span of control?
Span of control is the number of subordinates a manager can effectively oversee.
50
How do unity of command and span of control assist leaders?
They facilitate communication, direction, and understanding within an organization.
51
What is the concept of unity of command?
Unity of command refers to the principle that each employee should report to only one manager to avoid confusion and ensure clear direction.
52
What is the concept of span of control?
Span of control is the number of subordinates a manager can effectively oversee.
53
How do unity of command and span of control assist leaders?
They facilitate communication, direction, and understanding within an organization.
54
What is organizational culture?
Organizational culture is the beliefs, values, and norms shared by the members of an organization.
55
How is organizational culture often established?
It is often rooted in the traditional history of the department and passed down by senior members of the organization.
56
How does organizational culture relate to organizational structure?
Organizational culture exists parallel to—never as part of—the official organizational structure.
57
What are common elements of organizational culture?
Common elements include shared meanings, perceptions, behavioral codes, prescriptions and preferences, basic values, myths, legends, heroes and heroines, emblems, and rituals.
58
What are shared meanings in organizational culture?
Shared meanings refer to the common interpretation of events.
59
What do perceptions in organizational culture signify?
Perceptions are agreed-on views of how the work environment and the world work.
60
What are behavioral codes?
Behavioral codes are culturally accepted behaviors.
61
What do prescriptions and preferences include?
Prescriptions and preferences include documents like the firefighter training manual, my department’s way, and my captain’s way.
62
What are basic values in organizational culture?
Basic values are the accepted mentality and importance of safety concerns.
63
What role do myths, legends, heroes, and heroines play in organizational culture?
They contribute to the narrative and identity of the organization.
64
What are emblems in organizational culture?
Emblems are symbols that represent the organization and its values.
65
What are rituals in organizational culture?
Rituals are established practices that reinforce the culture within the organization.
66
Who is responsible for creating a culture of safety within a department?
Everyone is responsible, not just the chief officer.
67
What is the difference between talking about safety practices and creating a safety culture?
Creating a safety culture involves actual implementation and institutionalization of safety practices.
68
What do true leaders owe to their firefighters and their families?
They owe the creation and maintenance of a safety culture.
69
What is the fire service equivalent of globalization?
Regionalization.
70
What does regionalization in the fire service involve?
It ranges from the sharing of specific services or facilities to consolidation of fire departments across regions.
71
What has driven regionalization in the fire service?
Interests in more efficient, less costly operations.
72
What concept is much of the cost of an emergency response organization built into?
The 'worst case scenario' concept.
73
What is an example of flexibility in fire service organizations?
The development and adoption of the NIMS incident command systems.
74
What can a leadership plan for the fire service be developed from?
A leadership plan for the fire service can be developed by combining various aspects of different leadership theories.
75
What should a leadership plan for the fire service typify?
A leadership plan for the fire service should typify leadership demands.
76
What is people-oriented leadership?
People-oriented leadership shows a greater concern for the employees than the task that needs to be accomplished.
77
What is task-oriented leadership?
Task-oriented leadership is more focused on the accomplishment of the task at hand than the individual assigned to accomplish the task.
78
What must effective leaders rely on during firefighting operations?
Effective leaders must rely on those people who trust them to work diligently within the pressure-cooker environment of the fire-ground operation.
79
What is the root of a leader's success in firefighting?
The leader's ability to inspire people to labor on his or her behalf lies at the root of any success he or she will have.
80
What is a key cause of real failure in leadership?
The inability to make decisions.
## Footnote
Indecisiveness leads to poor outcomes.
81
What is the consequence of indecisiveness in leadership?
It sets members down the path of doing whatever they want.
## Footnote
This can lead to a lack of direction and cohesion.
82
What is delegation in leadership?
Delegation is a necessary part of leadership.
83
How are good leaders judged?
Good leaders are judged not on what they do but on how well the team performs.
84
What is delegation in a leadership context?
Delegation reaffirms the leader’s belief in their member’s abilities and allows the members to develop on their own career path.
85
Why is communication important in delegation?
Communication is vital to a successful outcome in all cases of delegation.
86
What must subordinates be able to do when tasks are delegated?
Subordinates must be free to accept or reject the task.
87
What must subordinates clearly understand in delegation?
Subordinates must clearly understand the task parameters, limits of authority, and responsibility.
88
What is the focus of leadership?
Leadership is focused on influencing people to take action to achieve a desired end state.
89
What is leadership defined as?
Leadership is influence.
90
What happens if a leader cannot influence their subordinates?
A leader who cannot influence his or her subordinates will not be viewed as a leader.
91
How do managers compare to staff officers in the military?
Managers are like staff officers in the military; they manage tasks and situations rather than influencing a crew.
92
What type of leadership is management more aligned with?
Management is more in alignment with transactional leadership.
93
What type of leadership are leaders more associated with?
Leaders are more transformational in nature.
94
What can having an outstanding transformational leader surrounded by other leaders lead to?
It can lead to a diverse work group and solid decision making.
95
A style of leadership wherein the leaders have a vision of what they wish to accomplish and they lead through a process of inspiration and enthusiasm. They are then wise and capable enough to be able to allow their personnel to do the best job possible
Charismatic leadership
96
What is a limitation of charismatic leadership regarding expectations?
The leader sets unrealistic expectations.
97
What is a limitation of charismatic leadership related to dependency?
People become dependent on the leader.
98
What is a limitation of charismatic leadership concerning disagreement?
People become reluctant to disagree with the leader.
99
What is a limitation of charismatic leadership regarding the leader's presence?
The leader must deliver an aura of continuing magic.
100
A style of leadership in which those in leadership positions demonstrate the appropriate relationship between the leader’s behavior and the follower’s readiness to act in a particular aspect of the situation
Situational leadership
101
A leadership style in which the issues of task and orientation are paired with the relationship the follower has to the leader
Contingency leadership
102
Why is contingency leadership important during emergencies?
The needs of the moment are not known until the emergency occurs.
103
What is the leader's responsibility in contingency leadership?
The leader is responsible for creating the proper situational environment.
104
What is the goal of creating a proper situational environment in contingency leadership?
To allow people to derive satisfaction from their efforts.
105
A style of leadership in which the leaders can sometimes be expected to evolve from within a social context
Citizen Leadership
106
What is the nature of citizen leadership?
Citizen leadership is supportive in nature.
107
How do members in citizen leadership interact?
Members are equals who work together for the common good.
108
What is the basic component for creating effective citizen leadership?
Concern for the follower is the basic component.
109
_____ often emerges within a democracy. A person is selected and elected by his or her peers to lead a team.
Citizen leadership
110
What is the primary focus of a servant leader?
The servant leader is focused on ensuring that others' highest needs are being met as a higher priority than being recognized as a leader.
111
What is the concept of servant leadership?
Under the concept of servant leadership, people are urged to be who they are.
112
What is the aim of transformational leadership?
Transformational leadership aims for an even higher level of achievement.
113
How do leaders and followers interact in transformational leadership?
Leaders and followers engage with each other to raise one another to higher levels of motivation and morality.
114
What does transformational leadership theory focus on?
It focuses on binding together the interests of the leader and the follower into something greater than the acts of the individuals.
115
Leadership style based on a series of transactions between the leader and the person being led
Transactional leadership
116
A program focused on improved situational awareness, sound critical decision-making, effective communications, proper task allocation, and successful teamwork and leadership (NFPA 1500).
Crew Resource Management
117
What are the four critical leadership skills according to the IAFC publication?
The four critical leadership skills are authority, mentoring, conflict resolution, and mission analysis.
118
What is the first critical leadership skill?
Authority
119
What is the second critical leadership skill?
Mentoring
120
What is the third critical leadership skill?
Conflict resolution
121
What is the fourth critical leadership skill?
Mission analysis
122
Who is ultimately responsible for overall safety in the fire service?
The fire service leader is ultimately responsible for overall safety.
123
What is an important element of establishing successful authority?
Proper communications is an important element of establishing successful authority.
124
What is the importance of crew input?
Crew input is important to both parties and can bring a fresh perspective to the leader's decision-making responsibility.
125
What must chief officers establish?
Chief officers must establish the ethical base for all to follow.
126
What can assist supervisors in guiding and enforcing ethical behavior?
Rules, regulations, policies, and procedures can assist supervisors in both guiding and enforcing ethical behavior.
127
What is respect a product of?
Respect is a product of subordinates believing that the chief officer has their best interest in mind.
128
What do subordinates expect from their chief officer?
Subordinates expect the chief officer to support, guide, defend, and counsel them appropriately.
129
The training, education, knowledge, and skills aspiring officers will acquire throughout their career as they prepare for their upward mobility within the organization
Professional development
130
Traits of success:
1. The ability to define one’s idea of what kind of person he or she wants to be and how being that kind of person manifests itself personally and professionally
Vision
131
Traits of success
2. A necessity for all leaders. Allows leaders to make the right decisions, which are not always easy decisions. Doing what is right is far more important than doing what is easy.
Courage
132
Traits of success
3. Important in every position in the fire service, knowing your job
Technical knowledge
133
Traits of success
4. Encompasses many different aspects: task planning, ability to plan and schedule, organized communication skills. From timely response to inquiries, to maintenance of email and documents.
Organizational skills
134
Traits of success
5. The skill of communicating ideas, concepts, and directions to others in such a way that desired action will be taken
People skills
135
Traits of success
6. Perhaps the most important to the future success of the chief officer. Demonstrates that one can handle both success and stumbles along his or her chosen path
Commitment
136
What is the NFA EFOP designed for?
The NFA EFOP is designed for chief officers at the executive level.
137
What is the structure of the EFOP curriculum as of 2020?
The EFOP curriculum is being revised into a 2-year cohort program that requires attendance at the NFA.
138
What are the main focus areas of the EFOP program?
The program focuses on the skill sets of self, organization, and community.
139
What are the requirements for participants in the EFOP?
Participants must engage in on-going journaling, complete a comprehensive thesis, and successfully pass an oral defense panel.
140
What is the purpose of the oral defense panel in the EFOP?
The panel allows the student to present the details, findings, and recommendations from their research.
141
What is required to obtain the NFA EFO designation?
Obtaining the NFA EFO designation requires a considerable time commitment by the fire officer candidate.
142
What are some rewards of completing the NFA EFOP?
The rewards include affiliation with the National Society of Executive Fire Officers.
143
What is the pursuit of the CFO designation?
The pursuit of the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) chief fire officer (CFO) designation is a journey, not a destination.
144
At what level does the journey for CFO designation typically begin?
The journey typically begins at the Fire Officer III level.
145
What resources should officers reference when pursuing CFO designation?
Officers should reference the IAFC Officer Development Handbook and the CPSE's CFO designation guide.
146
What do the IAFC Handbook and CPSE guide provide?
They serve as a reference to documenting education, training, and experience, and provide a road map for completing the requirements referenced in NFPA 1021.
147
What is required for the CFO designation?
Fire officers must document their activity in the community and develop a master plan for professional development.
148
What are the two paths candidates can choose in the CFO designation process?
Candidates can choose path A or B.
149
What does Path A require?
Path A is for officers who meet the minimum service requirements for education and experience.
150
What does Path B require?
Path B is for officers who do not have a minimum of either 10 years of chief officer experience or a master's degree.
151
What must candidates on Path B complete?
Candidates must complete 20 competencies documenting knowledge, experience, and education in various areas.
152
Who verifies the competencies for Path B candidates?
The competencies are to be verified by evaluators of the CPSE Commission on Professional Credentialing.
153
What happens after the CFO designation application is submitted?
The application is reviewed by a CPSE evaluator, and a recommendation for credentialing is made.
154
How long is the CFO designation valid?
This is a three-year designation; the applicant must maintain credentialing and reapply every three years.
155
What new designation has CPSE developed recently?
The CPSE developed the fire officer designation to provide aspiring chief officers with a progressive step to credentialing development.
156
What is similar between the fire officer designation and the CFO designation?
The application is similar; candidates must complete the same organizational, educational, training, and experience documentation, including 12 competencies.
157
What should be the goal of a good chief officer?
To help personnel meet their professional goals and develop into highly valued professionals within the department.
158
What does cognitive learning emphasize?
Cognitive learning emphasizes the intellectual process.
159
What does affective learning emphasize?
Affective learning emphasizes paradigm and attitude.
160
What does psychomotor learning emphasize?
Psychomotor learning emphasizes motor (hands-on) skills.
161
How do the three domains of learning relate to education and training?
Education relates best to cognitive or affective learning, and training relates best to psychomotor or hands-on learning.
162
How is education in arts characterized?
Education in arts is more conceptual in nature.
163
How is education in science characterized?
Education in science is more technical.
164
What opportunity does public speaking provide individuals?
Public speaking provides individuals with a free opportunity to sell their organization and to educate the community about their service.
165
What should be considered when composing a message?
It is important to consider the audience and tailor the message appropriately.
166
What skills are included in effective communication?
Effective communication includes speaking and writing skills, as well as active listening skills.
167
What is the basic purpose of communication?
The basic purpose of communication is to transmit the thoughts in one person's mind to the mind of another person with minimal distortion of context or intent.
168
What does effective communication require beyond information exchange?
For communication to be effective, it must also include a mutual understanding of the message.
169
What is a commonly encountered communication problem related to interference?
Noise
170
What communication problem arises from limited time to convey messages?
Time constraints
171
What communication issue involves the intentional editing of a message in order to avoid a conflict?
Filtering
172
What is the communication problem that deals with the meanings of words?
Semantics
173
What is a frame of reference?
A frame of reference is developed from an individual's background —his or her experiences, perceptions, and assumptions.
174
What do organizations often develop to outline behavioral requirements?
Organizations often develop a set of rules and regulations considered policy.
175
How are policies typically presented?
Policies may be spelled out in list form.
176
What are some examples of behavioral requirements in policies?
Examples include remaining truthful, remaining alcohol free on duty, not stealing, not cheating, and not being disrespectful.
177
What is the primary purpose of policies?
Policies are generally considered to determine courses of action.
178
How do directives/general orders differ from policies?
Directives/general orders are regarded as specific orders or instructions with a shorter shelf life than policies.
179
What actions can directives/general orders be issued to do?
Directives/general orders may be issued to start, stop, suspend, or modify a particular action.
180
What are SOPs/SOGs?
SOPs/SOGs are normally instructive documents designed to provide guidance and direction in operational issues.
181
How do SOPs/SOGs differ from policies or directives?
SOPs/SOGs may not have the same scope as policies or directives; the key difference lies in the nature and intention of the document.
182
What is the purpose of SOPs/SOGs?
They assist organizational members in making decisions in both emergency and nonemergency situations.
183
Do SOPs/SOGs allow for deviations?
Yes, they recognize that not all situations are 'standard' and members may have to deviate from the SOP/SOG.
184
What approach do SOPs/SOGs often use?
SOPs/SOGs sometimes use a step-by-step approach rather than overt management control.
185
What should you do if a written policy is required?
It is usually a good practice to involve others in its development.
186
Who should you engage in the discussion about the policy?
Engage those affected by the problem.
187
What is the best way to develop a written policy?
Engage those affected by the problem in a discussion about what should be included in the policy.
188
What is a procedure?
A procedure lends itself to a step-by-step process to complete a task with little flexibility.
189
What is a guideline?
A guideline indicates a path to completion but implies that the path is more of a suggestion than a mandate.
190
How do procedures and guidelines differ?
Procedures are strict and followed with little flexibility, while guidelines allow for more flexibility under normal circumstances.
191
What do many procedures state regarding officers?
Many procedures clearly state that officers may need to deviate from the procedure in the interest of fire fighter safety, tactical advantage, or necessity.
192
What is a good method of drawing attention to the good work performed by members?
Newsletters are a good method of drawing attention to the good work performed by the members of the organization.
193
What are the key factors for effective newsletters?
For newsletters to be effective, they should be released in a timely manner and include up-to-date information.
194
How is posting announcements similar to a newsletter?
Both serve to communicate information, but posting focuses on a single topic.
195
What are the three guiding words for dealing with social media issues?
Policy, training, and monitoring.
196
Who determines the schedule and disposition of records at the state government level?
The secretary of state determines the schedule and disposition of records that cover municipal departments.
197
What types of records must be kept on file?
Certain paper records must be kept on file.
198
Do electronic records have the same regulatory requirements as paper records?
Yes, electronic records—including emails, texts, social media conversations and posts, and photos and videos—often fall under the same regulatory requirements as paper records.
199
What action may a chief officer take when an issue demands immediate attention?
The chief officer may choose to issue a press release.
200
What is the purpose of issuing a press release?
To inform the greatest number of people as quickly as possible.
201
What is the most important document for a department?
The annual report.
202
What opportunity do annual reports provide?
They showcase the department, its services, and its personnel.
203
Who benefits from the information in annual reports?
Elected officials and the public.
204
What do annual reports demonstrate?
How the department effectively provides services with the budget dollars provided.
205
What is the first step in conducting research?
The first step is to clearly identify the problem or opportunity to be presented or defended.
206
What is the most convincing type of data to use?
The most current and fresh data is most convincing.
207
How many years of historical data is recommended to show trends?
At least five years of historical data is recommended to show trends.
208
Why is historical data important in research?
Historical data helps to show the pattern of movement over time.
209
What is the recommended number of sources for web-based information?
It is best to try and find at least three sources of web-based information rather than rely on a single source.
210
What is the focus of effective communication?
Effective communication focuses on achieving understanding.
211
Whose perspective is important in effective communication?
The perspective of both the communicator and the audience is important.
212
What may not be intuitive to officials outside the fire service?
A fire department's budget logic.
213
What must the chief officer convey to avoid confusion?
The department's needs in relation to the big picture.
214
Why is it important for the chief officer to convey the department's needs?
So that members outside the organization can understand the message.
