Designing an Agent-Based Model of SMEs to Assess Flood Response Strategies and Resilience
Commenced in January 2007
Frequency: Monthly
Edition: International
Paper Count: 32797
Designing an Agent-Based Model of SMEs to Assess Flood Response Strategies and Resilience

Authors: C. Li, G. Coates, N. Johnson, M. McGuinness

Abstract:

In the UK, flooding is responsible for significant losses to the economy due to the impact on businesses, the vast majority of which are Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Businesses of this nature tend to lack formal plans to aid their response to and recovery from disruptive events such as flooding. This paper reports on work on how an agent-based model (ABM) is being developed based on interview data gathered from SMEs at-risk of flooding and/or have direct experience of flooding. The ABM will enable simulations to be performed allowing investigations of different response strategies which SMEs may employ to lessen the impact of flooding, thus strengthening their resilience.

Keywords: ABM, Flood response, SMEs, Business continuity.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1337673

Procedia APA BibTeX Chicago EndNote Harvard JSON MLA RIS XML ISO 690 PDF Downloads 2976

References:


[1] Department of Business Innovation and Skills, "Business Population Estimates for the UK and Regions 2012", 2012.
[2] Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Environment Agency, "The cost of the summer 2007 floods in England", 2010.
[3] G. Coates, G.I. Hawe, M. McGuinness, N.G. Wright, D. Guan, T. Harries and L. McEwen, "A framework for organisational operational response and strategic decision making for long term flood preparedness in urban areas", 3rd International Conference on Disaster Management, pp. 89-98, July 2013.
[4] P. Woodman, Business Continuity Management. London: Chartered Management Institute, 2008.
[5] R. Whittle, W. Medd, H. Deeming, E. Kashefi, M. Mort, C. Twigger Ross, G. Walker and N. Watson, "After the Rain - learning the lessons from flood recovery in Hull", Final project report on ‘Flood, vulnerability and urban resilience: a real-time study of local recovery following the floods of June 2007 in Hull’. Lancaster University, UK, 2010.
[6] EKOS Consulting (UK) Ltd., Evaluation of Yorkshire forward’s flood response. Sheffield: EKOS Consulting (UK) Ltd, 2008.
[7] D. Molinari and J. Handmer, "A behavioural model for quantifying flood warning effectiveness," Journal of Flood Risk Management, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 23–32, 2011.
[8] A. Van Gils, "Management and governance in Dutch SMEs," European Management Journal, vol. 23, no. 5, pp.583-589, 2005.
[9] B. Sullivan-Taylor and L. Branicki, "Creating resilient SMEs: why one size might not fit all," International Journal of Production Research, vol. 49, no. 18, pp. 5565-5579, 2011.
[10] J. Grunert, and L. Norden, "Bargaining power and information in SME lending," Small Business Economics, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 401-417, 2012.
[11] G. Wedawatta and B. Ingirige, "Resilience and adaptation of small and medium-sized enterprises to flood risk," Disaster Prevention Management, vol. 21, no. 4, pp. 474–488, 2012.
[12] International Organization for Standardization, "ISO 22301 Societal Security - Business Continuity Management Systems", Geneva, Switzerland, ISO, 2012.
[13] M. Pitt, Learning Lessons from the 2007 Floods (The Pitt Review: Final report), London, Cabinet Office, 2008.
[14] P. Woodman and B. Musgrave, Weathering the Storm - the 2013 Business Continuity Management Survey. London, Chartered Management Institute, March 2013.
[15] I.F. Wilkinson, R. Marks and L. Young, "Toward Agent-based Models of the Development and Evolution of Business Relations and Networks," in A.A. Minai, Y. Bar-Yam (Eds.), Unifying themes in complex systems, Vol. IV Springer, pp. 414–421, 2010.
[16] G. Fioretti, "Agent-Based Simulation Models in Organization Science," Organizational Research Methods, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 227-242, 2012.
[17] I.F. Wilkinson, L. Young, R. Marks, T. Bossomaier, and F.P. Held, "Toward a Business Network Agent-Based Modeling System," International Conference on Complex Systems, pp. 680-691, 2011.
[18] K. Blackmore, T. Bossomaier, D. Jarnett, and K. Nesbitt, "Intelligent Agent Framework for Modeling the Evolution of Small and Medium Enterprises," Australian and New Zealand Intelligent Information Systems Conference, pp. 345-350, 2003.
[19] T. Qiuyan, "Analysis on the Agent Based Complex Adaptive Growth System of the Small and Medium Enterprises," International Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Development Forum, pp. 506-511, 2009.
[20] J. Tounsi, G. Habchi, J. Boissiere and S. Azalez, "A multi-agent knowledge model for SMEs mechatronic supply chains," Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, 2012, pp. 2647-2665.
[21] F. Pablo-Martí, M. T. Gallo, A. García-Tabuenca, J.L. Santos and T. Mancha, "MOSIPS Agent-based model for predicting and simulating the impact of public policies on SMEs," European Conference on Complex Systems, pp. 399-413, 2012.
[22] T. Fuller and P. Moran, “Small Firms as Complex Adaptive Systems: A Review”, ICSB Conference, Naples, Italy, 1999.
[23] B. Ingirige and G. Wedawatta, "SME Resilience to Extreme Weather Events: Important Initiatives for Informing Policy Making in the Area," International Conference on Building Resilience, July 2011.
[24] N. Bhattacharya-Mis and J. Lamond, "An investigation of patterns of response and recovery among flood-affected businesses in the UK: a case study in Sheffield and Wakefield," International Conference on Flood Recovery, Innovation and Response, pp. 163-173, 2014.
[25] M.B. Miles and A.M. Hubermann, Qualitative Data Analysis. London, Sage, 1994.
[26] J.B. Barney, "Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage," Journal of Management, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 99-120, 1991.
[27] J.D. Teece, G. Pisano and A. Shuen, "Dynamic capabilities and strategic management," Strategic Management Journal, vol. 18, no. 7, pp. 509- 533, 1997.
[28] B. Wernerfelt, "A resource-based view of the firm," Strategic Management Journal, vol. 5, pp. 171-180, 1984.
[29] B. Wernerfelt, "Invited Editorial: The Use of Resources in Resource Acquisition," Journal of Management, vol. 37, no. 5, pp. 1369-1373, 2011.
[30] C. Lévi-Strauss, The Savage Mind. Chicago, IL, University of Chicago Press, 1966.
[31] T. Baker, A.S. Miner and D.T. Eesley, "Improvising firms: bricolage, account giving and improvisational competencies in the founding process," Research Policy, vol. 32, pp. 255–276, 2003.
[32] A. Ates and U. Bititci, "Change process: a key enabler for building resilient SMEs," International Journal of Production Research, vol. 49, no. 18, pp. 5601-5618, 2011.
[33] E. Seville, D. Brunsdon, A. Dantas, J. Le Masurier, S. Wilkinson and J. Vargo, "Building Organizational Resilience: A summary of Key Research Findings, Engineering Report, University of Canterbury, New Zealand, 2006.
[34] R. McMahon, "Stage models of SME growth reconsidered," The Flinders University of South Australia, School of Commerce Research Paper Series, 1998, Research Paper Series: 98-5, 1998.
[35] A.M. Moreno and J.C. Moreno, "Entrepreneurial Orientation and Growth of SMEs: A Causal Model," Entrepreneurship: Theory & Practice, vol. 32, no. 3, pp. 507-528, 2008.
[36] Environment Agency, “Review of 2007 summer floods”, 2007.
[37] Environment Agency, “Would your business stay afloat?: A guide to preparing your business for flooding”.