The Effective Command™ Behavioural Marker Framework
Effective Command™ is a series of training, assessment, and monitoring tools, developed for the International Fire Service domain. They are aligned to National and International occupational frameworks and endorsed by several awarding bodies and academic institutions.
Effective Command™ was created as a behavioural marker framework in 2015 by two academic/fire service practitioners (UK and Australia), to address the disconnect between academic research and its application within the Fire Service. The aim was to develop a robust strategy to implement non-technical skills during Fire-officer training. It focuses on five key behaviours: Situational Awareness, Decision-making, Objective setting, Action behaviours and Review as identified by Launder and Perry (2014). These five key behaviours were then subdivided to form eight sections in the framework as detailed below.
Effective Command™ Methodology
The Effective Command™ training methodology aligns with the five principles of simulation-based exercise team training, as outlined by Crichton (2017).
● Principle 1 - Develop learning objectives and expected performance standards
Using scenarios, as outlined by Sarna (2002), Incident Commanders are presented with unexpected events or dilemmas (Lamb, 2014). These cues stimulate the expected behaviours and allow relevant behavioural markers to be practiced or demonstrated.
● Principle 2 - Train the team or individuals
Training the individual in non-technical skills is often overlooked during training and development of Fire Officers
● Principle 3 - Use a structured observation tool
The structured observation tool Effective Command™ is used to capture positive behaviours and those requiring improvement. The framework is also used as a basis of the training design used to provide feedback, and for self-reflection by the student.
● Principle 4 - Provide feedback during a structured debrief
Feedback is given face-to-face immediately following a scenario-based exercise, and behaviours observed during the exercise are highlighted.
● Principle 5 - Repeat the training regularly
Organisations are advised to embed the use of the Effective Command™ framework in on-station drills, live incident monitoring, large scale practical exercises and ongoing incident command training and assessments; to continually train against the behavioural markers identified.
Applications of Effective Command™
The Effective Command™ tool collates data using 3 different applications: Training, Incident Monitoring and Formal Assessment.
Training
The participants completed self-reflective Effective Command™ reports following their completion of structured training. The participants received minimal training on how to use the tools. There was no standardisation of the assessment measures, as such this data is only indicative of the completion of the training rather than being deemed suitable for in-depth analysis.
Incident Monitoring
The participants within this group are all operational commanders who fulfil an incident monitoring role for their organisation. These monitoring officers were trained and standardised internally by their organisation, so there was an organisational consistency in ‘what good looks like’. However, this consistency was not present between different organisations.
Formal Assessments
As per the guidance document by Klampfer et al. (2001), all assessors were sector competent and received training in non-technical skills and the use of the Effective Command™ behavioural marker framework. These assessors were re-validated annually.