Toward an organisational theory of surprises: Institutions and uncertainty in Australian emergency management

How organisations deal with uncertainty is a core concern in organisation theory. This thesis examines the institutional sources of this problem by investigating emergency management organisations, focusing on the Australian State of Victoria. It shows how contradictions between different logics generate paradoxes that can be made evident in organisations when unpredictable events occur. It argues that developing a better understanding of ‘surprises’ is crucial for improving organisational decision-making in emergency management in particular, and for all organisations in general.