NIMS Management Characteristics

Question 1

What are the fourteen (14) NIMS management characteristics?

Answer 1

1. Common Terminology
2. Incident Action Planning
3. Integrated Communications
4. Modular Organization
5. Manageable Span of Control
6. Establishment and Transfer of Command
7. Accountability
8. Management by Objectives
9. Incident Facilities and Locations
10. Unified Command
11. Dispatch and Deployment
12. Comprehensive Resource Management
13. Chain of Command and Unity of Command
14. Information and intelligence Management

Question 2

How is Common Terminology helpful?

Answer 2

Reduces confusion and enhances interoperability.

Question 3

What does Common Terminology cover?

Answer 3

• Organizational Functions: Major functions and units are named and defined using standardized terms.
• Resource Descriptions - Resources (personnel, equipment, teams, and facilities) have common naming based on their type and capabilities.
• Incident Facilities: Facilities in an incident are designated using common terms.

Question 4

What do Incident Action Plans (IAPs) do?

Answer 4

• Record and communicate incident objectives, tactics, and assignments for operations and support.
• Are recommended for all incidents.
• Are not always written, but a written IAP is increasingly important when an incident or activation:
  
  • Is likely to extend beyond one operational period
  • Becomes more complex
  • Involves multiple jurisdictions or agencies

Question 5

When does Integrated Communications planning occur?

Answer 5

Both before and during an incident to provide equipment, systems, and protocols needed to achieve integrated voice and data communications.

Question 6

Incident managers facilitate communications through the development and use of what?

Answer 6

• A common communications plan.
• Interoperable communications processes and systems.
• Systems that include both voice and data links.

Question 7

What does it mean when it is said that organization structures for incident management (ICS and EOCS) are “modular”?

Answer 7

They are each building blocks that are put in place as needed based on an incident’s size, complexity, and hazards.

Question 8

What does Span of Control refer to?

Answer 8

The number of subordinates that directly report to a supervisor.

Question 9

Maintaining an appropriate Span of Control ensures what?

Answer 9

Effective Incident Management by enabling supervisors to:

• Direct and supervise subordinates.
• Communicate with and manage resources.

Question 10

Span of Control can change based on what?

Answer 10

• Type of incident.
• Nature of the task.
• Existing hazards and safety factors.
• Distances between personnel and resources.

Question 11

What are the principles of Accountability?

Answer 11

• Check-in/Check-out
• Incident action planning
• Unity of command
• Personal responsibility
• Span of control
• Resource tracking

Question 12

What is it called when, in an incident, all activities are directed to accomplish defined objectives?

Answer 12

Management by Objectives.

Question 13

Management by Objectives includes what?

Answer 13

• Establishing specific, measurable objectives.
• Identifying strategies, tactics, tasks, and activities to achieve the objectives.
• Developing and issuing assignments, plans, procedures, and protocols to accomplish tasks.
• Documenting results against objective to measure performance, facilitate corrective actions, and inform development of objectives for the next operational period.

Question 14

Who establishes incident support facilities for specific purposes?

Answer 14

The Incident Commander, Unified Command, or EOC Director

Question 15

What are typical designated facilities?

Answer 15

• Incident command Post (ICP)
• Incident Base
• Staging areas
• Camps
• Mass casualty triage areas
• Points-of-distribution
• Emergency shelters

Question 16

Unified Command it typically used for incidents involving what?

Answer 16

• Multiple jurisdictions.
• A single jurisdiction with multi-agency involvement.
• Multiple jurisdictions with multi-agency involvement.

Question 17

When should resources deploy?

Answer 17

Only when requested and dispatched through established procedures by appropriate authorities.

Question 18

Resources include what?

Answer 18

• Personnel
• Equipment
• Teams
• Supplies
• Facilities
  …available or potentially available for assign or allocation

Question 19

Maintaining accurate and up-to-date resource inventories and resource tracking are essential components of what?

Answer 19

Incident Management

Question 20

What does Chain of Command refer to?

Answer 20

The orderly command hierarchy within an incident management organization.

Question 21

What does Unity of Command mean?

Answer 21

That each individual reports to only one designated supervisor.

Question 22

What are the benefits of Chain of Command and Unity of Command principles?

Answer 22

• Clarify reporting relationships.
• Eliminate confusion caused by conflicting instructions.
• Enable incident managers at all levels to direct the action of all personnel under their supervision.

Question 23

Incident-related information and intelligence is managed by the incident management organization through what established processes?

Answer 23

• Gathering
• Analyzing
• Assessing
• Sharing
• Managing

Question 24

What does EEI stand for?

Answer 24

Essential Element of Information

Question 25

What is the purpose of identifying EEI (Essential Elements of Information)?

Answer 25

EEi ensures incident personnel gather the most accurate and appropriate data, translate it into useful information, and communicate it with appropriate personnel.