International Journal of Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, 2(4), 1-19, October-December 2010 1 Copyright © 2010, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. Keywords: Continuous, Coordinated, Emergency Management, Inter-Organizational, Planning, Soft Systems Methodology INTRODUCTION This paper introduces a methodology for achiev- ing continuous and coordinated inter-organiza- tional planning among emergency management organizations. How such planning arrangements can work in inter-organizational settings is far from clear, since networked organizations often lack a single authority coordinating common activities (Capaldo, 2007). Comfort (2005) concludes that there is a need to change the standard practice of today towards building A Methodology for Inter-Organizational Emergency Management Continuity Planning John Lindström, Luleå University of Technology, Sweden Dan Harnesk, Luleå University of Technology, Sweden Elina Laaksonen, Luleå University of Technology, Sweden Marko Niemimaa, Luleå University of Technology, Sweden ABSTRACT This paper extends emergency management literature by developing a methodology for emergency manage- ment continuity planning (EmCP). In particular, the methodology focuses on inter-organizational continuous and coordinated planning among emergency management organizations. The authors draw on Soft Systems Methodology (Checkland & Scholes, 1999; Checkland, 2000), using it as a base for better understanding of EmCP. Barriers that must be overcome before the methodology can be introduced and established, as well as potential benefts, are also discussed. networks of emergency management organi- zations committed to a continuous process of improvement and learning, and Dynes (2000) further proposes that in the future there should be a concern for all types of hazards and that this concern needs to be built into organizations. Harrald (2006) adds that critical success factors are pre-planned inter-organizational planning and organizational learning. As observed by Harrald (2006), what is not addressed in emer- gency management literature is how planning in between organizations involved in emergency management can be accomplished. In addition, the planning in between organizations involved DOI: 10.4018/jiscrm.2010100101