Nimble and Networked: The 2013 PEDv Crisis as a Case Study Morgan Getchell, PhD Joel Iverson, PhD

PEDv Fact Sheet Highly contagious coronavirus that infects pigs Causes vomiting and diarrhea leading to dehydration 50-100% mortality rate in infected piglets Infected pigs are pulled from production 2013 outbreak killed estimated 3 million pigs Economic impact estimates between $900 million to $1.8 billion

States Affected in 2013 Outbreak

Networks and Social Resource Theory Networks examine the relationships among the entities that make up a system Network characteristics: density Centrality Outliers/isolates Social Resource Theory: a node’s achievement is in part a function of the resources their ties enable them to access

Pork Industry Network Existing network, but no existing plan for PEDv Established communication channels Pork.org website, print magazines, press releases Important role of veterinarians Weekly calls with 30 key network members

Communities of Practice Communities of Practice highlight “the essential role of situated action in constituting knowing and practice” (Iverson & McPhee, 2008, pp. 176-177). Situated Learning and Sharing Practices Communicating Community CoP theory explores communicative interaction to enact learning, knowledge and belonging

CoP Theory Elements Mutual Engagement – Interaction practices – offer insights, adopt practices & share frustrations Shared Repertoire – Specialized knowledge and resources (what and how) Negotiation of a Joint Enterprise – Negotiated response to shared situation and larger context - enacts structures CoP theory examines communicatively enacted practices of knowledge and learning

CoP Theory Illuminates Mutual Engagement – processes of connecting around PEDv Network analysis illuminates who is communicating and connecting Negotiation of Joint Enterprise – Cooperation and extension of network Veterinarians and Extension agents used – different producers trust different knowledge experts Shared Repertoire – Network enacts new terms and practices Clean versus sterile – pig care habits are a repertoire.

Merging Two Approaches Focus on communicative connections and enactment Process of enacting connection Examines how communication enable and constrain action as two facets of structure

Commingling the Theories Inform and compensate for blind spots Network analysis shows who is talking to whom – closely connected to mutual engagement. NJE demonstrates the process of enacting a community via the network. Shared Repertoire are the practices that are co-constructed within the network interactions – knowledge shared or communicated

Can We Integrate the Theories? PEDv case demonstrates utility of combining approaches Understanding network – who talks to whom and how they mutually engage PEDv relied on existing active and latent connections as a negotiated joint enterprise PEDv information and education expanded a shared repertoire Getchverson’s? Community Network Theory  Demonstrates the interaction and enactment of community structures Community is more than a network – enables and constrains (structures) Fits Phase model – explains how post-crisis leads to pre-crisis best practices The enacted community network enables and constrains future actions

Concluding Thoughts Potential for understanding how communication: Constitutes Enables and Constrains (structures) Crisis preparedness, response and recovery Nimble ability to explore dispersed groups of stakeholders Explores connections and capabilities across disasters over time Limitations and Concerns: Don’t need another euphemism for team or cooperation More than a mash-up of two theories

Thank you! Questions?