1. An Analysis of Social Media Policy Development within Oregon’s Fire Service Community
Portland State University
Hatfield School of Government
EMPA Capstone Presentation
By Will Bauscher

2. Driving Forces Behind Project
In recent years, a growing number of fire service agencies, journals, and associations, have created a presence on the diverse and ever expansive social networks of Face book, MySpace, YouTube, Twitter, and etc.
Increasing use of social media tools among those entering fire service
85% new candidates
Public at large increasing use of social media tools for information

3. Project Objective
The core objective and purpose of the proposed research effort centers on identifying essential elements and/or attributes influencing social media policy for Oregon’s Fire Service community:
“What is the influence of structural, social, economic and political attributes upon existing policy and perceptions around social media in Oregon’s Fire Service?”

4. Conceptual Framework

5. Existing Literature Emphasize three areas:
General social media topics (expansive)
Utilization; Privacy; Security; Cost/Benefit; Management of. . .
Policy ‘how to’ documents
Dilemmas; Essential elements; Guidelines and ‘Best Practices’ already established.
Policy Analysis
Analytical methodology; Decision making; Application of policy theory.

6. Methods – Content Analysis (Birkland’s – The Environment of Policy Making)

7. Methods – Content Analysis
Focus on Oregon Fire Departments
Selection based upon list maintained by State Fire Marshal
Randomly sorted and utilized for survey distribution.
Of 317 departments contact information was obtained for 82.
Survey data collected and analyzed & coded into four categories of influence
structural, social, political, and economic.
Social media policies were also collected and analyzed into the four categories of influence.

8. Methods – Content Analysis (Oregon’s Fire Service – The Environment of Policy Making)
Education and understanding of social media principals among elected and administrative leaders
Level of commitment and/or apprehension to social media use
Internal and external perceptions of social media benefits/risks
Historical and sentinel events with positive and negative connotations.
Political barriers to social media utilization
Presence or absence of existing policies related to social media
Electronic infrastructure
Organizational mission & core operational requirements
Organizational & Operational structure relating to policy development and administration.
Structural barriers to social media policy implementation
Perceived costs verses benefits of social media utilization – including non economic related elements.
Current and future budgetary constraints
Resources associated with effectiveness and efficiency - sustainability
Staffing and support
Economic barriers to social media utilization
Workforce demographics and generational influences
Organizational interactions internally and externally
Community demographics and expectations.
Current and potential utilization of social media tools
Social or cultural barriers to social media utilization

9. Analysis & Discussion

10. Analysis & Discussion

11. Analysis & Discussion

12. Analysis & Discussion (Agencies Considering Using Social media)

13. Analysis & Discussion

14. Analysis & Discussion

15. Analysis & Discussion

16. Conclusions & Recommendations
“Structural Policy Environment” greatly impacts social media policy in Oregon’s Fire Service
EMS Mission
Patient privacy, security
“Social Policy Environment” is increasingly impacting social media policy
Workforce and community expectations
Transparency in government
Ever increasingly ‘connected’ society

17. Conclusions & Recommendations
“Political Policy Environment” influence is much more difficult to determine.
All politics is local
Driven by organizational Mission, Vision, Values
Conscious choice to adopt social media
“Economic Policy Environment” is predominantly a matter of choice.
Benefits outweigh costs

18. Social Media Policy Development for Oregon’s Fire Service
Emphasis must be placed upon alignment with organization’s mission, vision, values
Be clear about expectations, desires, and means of accountability.
Considering legal mandates
HIPAA, BOLI, FLSA, Constitution, Labor agreements, etc.
Developed with focus on benefits verses potential pitfalls.
Go for it – “Semper Gumby”
Policies on social media are living documents.

19. Acknowledgements Faculty & Staff Colleagues – fellow students
Advisor Dr. Matt Jones
EMPA faculty
Dr. Ingle, Dr. Nishishiba, Dr. Morgan, Dr. Shin, Dr. Cooper, Dr. Kass, Dr. Larsen, Dr. Lazenby.
EMPA Staff
Yachi Iisako
EMPA Mentor
Davis Moriuchi
Colleagues – fellow students

20. My Wife & Children