A Lessons Framework for Civil-Military-Police Conflict and Disaster Management: An Australian Perspective

The Requirement For Lessons Learned

‘Lessons learned’ refers to the act of learning from experience to improve performance and achieve success. Lessons cannot be learned successfully unless leadership is actively supportive and engaged in the process, stakeholders are involved in and have the opportunity to influence change, and all those involved are encouraged and willing to share information (North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO], 2011). In a multiagency setting, such as in Australia, Canada or the United States, successful learning requires leadership commitment, sound plans that set clear priorities, and measurable goals. While it is relatively easy to point to mistakes in the past, validating those mistakes and ensuring that they do not happen again requires leadership, particularly in the field of conflict and peacebuilding where long-term commitments and plans are needed (Cordesman, 2004). Most practitioners and researchers also agree that there needs to be a concerted effort to forge collaborative partnerships and seek coordinated solutions that leverage expertise and capabilities across communities (Coning & Friis, 2011; Reitjens, van Fenema, & Essens, 2013; US Government Accountability Office, 2010).