Exploring contingency planning for adverse weather conditions.

112 Pages·2014·1.14 MB·English

by  Trudi Bridges

2014

Exploring contingency planning for adverse weather
conditions.

How well do Event Managers plan for inclement weather?

Trudi Bridges
Unitec New Zealand
May 2014
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Declaration

Name of candidate: Trudi Bridges

This Thesis/Dissertation/Research Project entitled:
Exploring contingency planning for adverse weather conditions – How well do Event
Managers plan for inclement weather? is submitted in partial fulfilment for the
requirements for the Unitec degree of Master of Business.

Candidate’s declaration

I confirm that:

 This Thesis/Dissertation/Research Project represents my own work;
 The contribution of supervisors and others to this work was consistent with the
Unitec Regulations and Policies
 Research for this work has been conducted in accordance with the Unitec Research
Ethics Committee Policy and Procedures, and has fulfilled any requirements set for
this project by the Unitec Research Ethics Committee.
 Research Ethics Committee Approval Number: 2012-1002

Candidate Signature........................................................Date..........................
Student number: 1010336

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Exploring contingency planning for adverse weather conditions –
How well do Event Managers plan for inclement weather?
“An investigation into the impact inclement weather has on organised events,
and the project planning implications for Event Managers.”

Trudi Bridges

A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the degree of
Masters of Business (MBus)
Unitec Institute of Technology
New Zealand
2014

Department of Management and Marketing
Primary Supervisor: Helen Mitchell

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to offer my sincere thanks to a number of people that made this thesis possible.
To Dr Helen Mitchell, my primary supervisor, thank you. Your initial interest in my thesis
topic and the ongoing support and enthusiasm during the course of this post-graduate study
has been terrific. You encouraged and guided me throughout this process providing the
necessary boost when required and kept assuring me I was on the right track. You kindly
accommodated the geographical challenge of my living some distance away and my juggling
of work, study and family knowing we would get there in the end.
I would also like to thank my secondary supervisor, Dr Jocelyn Williams. You recognised the
research opportunity my thesis topic presented and encouraged me to pursue it further.
Your feedback during the writing process was essential and valued elevating the quality of
my work. Thank you both for sharing your knowledge, giving me your time and support.
Additionally I would like to thank the lecturers and support staff at Unitec that have
supported my academic journey. This started with the fantastic people at the Unitec
Department of Sport who made my Bachelor of Sport Management study such a fun
experience. A special thank you to Trevor Meiklejohn for always encouraging me and
recommending I continue with my studies. Thank you to the Unitec Postgraduate
Scholarship programme for providing me with this opportunity. I would not have been able
to pursue this course of Masters study without this valuable contribution.
Thanks to all of the research participants who generously gave me their time completing my
questionnaires. Without your contribution and industry support this research thesis would
not have been possible.
Lastly, but most importantly, thank you to my family and friends for never doubting I would
finish this thesis. Wayne and Keegan, thank for going to the park so much and giving Mum
her time to get on with it in peace. You always allow me the freedom to achieve my goals
and never question why. Mum and David, Phillip and Jamie, Mark, Katherine, Gideon and
the girls, Wayne’s family and the Ashby family, thank you too for your continued
encouragement. Thank you to all my work colleagues and special friends who contributed
knowledge, ideas, encouragement and laughter along the way.
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DEDICATION

I would like to dedicate this thesis to my Dad, David Anderson for showing me the
importance of always learning and the value of education. No matter what I have chosen to
do in life you have always believed in me. Thank you.

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ABSTRACT
This research investigates the impact inclement weather has on outdoor events and the
project planning implications for event managers. How well do event managers plan for
inclement weather and how many just hope for the best?
In March 2012 hundreds of New Zealanders had their weekend plans disrupted due to an
impending ‘weather bomb’. The Met Service had issued a strong wind warning with gusts of
120km/h predicted along with heavy rain.
The role of the event manager is to deliver the event according to the event scope and
organisational goals and objectives through the development of an event plan (Getz, 2012).
This is achieved through the event management framework of the development phase,
operational planning phase, implementation, monitoring and management phase followed
by an evaluation of the event (Mallen & Adams, 2008).
Closely aligned is the contingency planning framework of identifying and managing risk.
Contingency planning is the advanced preparation of action to meet unexpected events that
could significantly impact the occasion should they occur. For every aspect of the event
there should be a contingency plan.
To discover how well event managers’ plan for inclement weather a questionnaire aligned
to the event management process was developed to explore event managers’ preparedness
for the effects of weather on their events. Fifteen event managers of outdoor events from
throughout New Zealand participated in the research. Potentially there will be those whose
events have suffered detrimentally to inclement weather conditions and those that have
not.
Results showed event managers in New Zealand are well aware of the perils Mother Nature
can deliver to an event. There was evidence the event managers have good monitoring
systems in place to monitor impending weather conditions. They are also cognisant of the
need to provide shelter and protection from the elements for their patrons.
The research results indicated elements of weakness when planning for contingency in the
areas of budget setting and seeking appropriate weather insurance to protect an
organisation from potential financial losses that inclement weather may bring.
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Table of Contents
DECLARATION ......................................................................................................................................... ii
ACKNOWLEGEMENTS ............................................................................................................................ iv
DEDICATION............................................................................................................................................ v
ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................................. vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................vii
1. INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT
1.1 OVERVIEW .............................................................................................................................. ..... 1
1.2 RESEARCH QUESTION.................................................................................................................... 5
1.3 THESIS OUTLINE .......................................................................................................................... 6
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 PROLOGUE .................................................................................................................................... 9
2.2 EVENT MANAGEMENT DEFINED
2.2.1 Events Defined ..................................................................................................................... 10
2.2.2 Event Management Framework .......................................................................................... 12
2.2.3 Essential Qualities of Event Managers ................................................................................. 14
2.2.4 Event Typology for Research ............................................................................................... 16
2.3 CONTINGENCY PLANNING DEFINED……………………………………………………………………………………….18
2.3.1 Contingency Planning Process ............................................................................................. 19
2.3.2 The Elements of a Contingency Plan .................................................................................... 21
2.3.3 Investigation of Inclement Weather ................................................................................... 26
2.4 SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................... 29
3. RESEARCH METHOD
3.1 INTRODUCTON ............................................................................................................................ 31
3.2 RESEARCH APPROACH ................................................................................................................. 31
3.2.1 Interpretive Paradigm .......................................................................................................... 32
3.2.2 Qualitative Research ............................................................................................................ 32
3.2.3 Quantitative Research ......................................................................................................... 33
3.2.4 Mixed Methods Approach ................................................................................................... 34
3.3 DATA COLLECTION METHOD ....................................................................................................... 35
3.3.1 Data Sources ........................................................................................................................ 36
3.3.2 Participants .......................................................................................................................... 38
3.3.3 Event Selection .................................................................................................................... 38
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3.3.4 Negotiating Participation ..................................................................................................... 39
3.3.5 Responses ............................................................................................................................ 41
3.3.6 Pilot Survey .......................................................................................................................... 42
3.4 DATA COLLECTION PROCESS ....................................................................................................... 43
3.4.1 Communication Process ...................................................................................................... 44
3.4.2 Survey Collation ................................................................................................................... 45
3.5 RESEARCH ETHICS CONSIDERATIONS .................................................................................. ..... 46
3.6 LIMITATIONS OF THE RESEARCH ................................................................................................. 47
3.7 SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................. 48
4. FINDINGS
4.1 INTRODUCTON ............................................................................................................................ 49
4.2 FINDINGS ..................................................................................................................................... 50
4.2.1 Event Design ........................................................................................................................ 50
4.2.2 Event Marketing and Promotion ......................................................................................... 51
4.2.3 Pre-event Planning ............................................................................................................... 52
4.2.4 Risk Assessment ................................................................................................................... 62
4.2.5 Communication Planning ..................................................................................................... 66
4.3 SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................... 70
5. DISCUSSION
5.1 INTRODUCTON ............................................................................................................................ 71
5.2 FINDINGS ..................................................................................................................................... 72
5.2.1 Adverse Weather Contingency Elements ........................................................................... 72
5.2.2 Financial Impacts of Inclement Weather ............................................................................. 76
5.2.3 Event Logistics of Inclement Weather ................................................................................. 78
5.2.4 Impact on Customer Service Levels ..................................................................................... 81
5.3 SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................... 85
6. CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................................... 86
7. REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................................... 89
8. APPENDICES
Appendix 1: Letter of Approach and Participant Consent ................................................................ 93
Appendix 2: Research Questionnaire ................................................................................................ 95
Appendix 3: Research Data – Collated Results ............................................................................... 104

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INDEX OF TABLES AND FIGURES
Figure 1: Five areas of Knowledge Domains .................................................................................... 15
Figure 2:Typology of planned events ................................................................................................ 17
Figure 3: The contingency planning process .................................................................................... 20
Figure 4: Elements of a contingency plan… ...................................................................................... 22
Figure 5 Multiple types of outdoor events and associated risks. ..................................................... 27
Figure 6 Features of Interpretivism .................................................................................................. 32
Figure 7 Designing a questionnaire ................................................................................................... 44
Table 1 Event genre by category ....................................................................................................... 50
Table 2 Event by location .................................................................................................................. 50
Table 3 Marketing methods .............................................................................................................. 51
Table 4 Multi-Media methods used to promote the event .............................................................. 52
Table 5 Budget ranges for the event ................................................................................................. 53
Table 6 Budget ranges for the financial outcome for the event ....................................................... 55
Table 7 The monitoring of weather forecasts by event managers ................................................... 63
Table 8 The management of rain runoff and associated hazards ..................................................... 64
Table 9 The number of events covered by television coverage ....................................................... 67

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1. INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT
1.1 Overview
Exploring contingency planning for adverse weather conditions – How well do Event
Managers plan for inclement weather?
This thesis is an investigation of the impact inclement weather could have on organised
events, and the project planning implications for event managers. What are the planning
considerations for event managers in relation to project management, financial planning
and public relations to ensure a successful event outcome?
Interesting aspects of event management became quite topical during March 2012 during
an unseasonably wet summer and following the Christchurch earthquakes, raising the
question are weather and natural catastrophe contingencies built into an event plan by
event managers? Occurrences of this type highlight the project planning, economic and
customer satisfaction impacts such weather conditions may have on the management of
events.
Leading up to the first weekend in March, a weather forecast predicting a major ‘weather
bomb’ was broadcast through the media. Hundreds of travellers and event-goers had their
plans disrupted by the wild weather that blasted the North Island (Stewart & Ensor, 2012).

The media stated “Sport's big weekend is under threat from North Island 'weather bomb’ ”
(Donnell, 2012). “The MetService has issued a strong wind warning for Wellington and
Wairarapa, coastal Marlborough, Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, with gusts between 120 and
150km/h predicted until later tonight” as reported by the New Zealand Herald (“Weather
Watch: 'Weather bomb' headed our way”, 2012). The article continued with "This deep,
deep low will barrel in like a bull in a china shop with potentially damaging winds," stated
MetService forecaster Daniel Corbett (“Weather Watch”, 2012).

The definition of a “weather bomb” is a severe depression in the weather pattern (Sanders
& Gyakum, 1980). The first use of the term “weather bomb” was by two meteorological
researchers, Sanders & Gyakum (1980). The name “weather bomb” relates to the
destructive potential of rapidly deepening lows.
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