Across the program, themes such as administrative resilience, civil preparedness, inclusion, crisis leadership, public-sector control systems, wartime adaptation, healthcare preparedness, and the human dimensions of war were addressed.

Cecilia Fredriksson from the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) and Affiliated Researcher at CfSR, presenting research on resilience and public-sector management. Photo: Edvin Landvik

The day opened with an introduction by Katja Einola and Lukas Goretzki, research facilitators for management and control, together with Staffan Holmberg, Executive Director of the Center for Security and Resilience. The morning sessions featured presentations on pragmatic bureaucracy and administrative resilience, civil preparedness and inclusion in Nordic total defense and German civil protection, and resilience as a capability in wartime Ukraine.

Eirik Lampe from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) presenting during the CfSR Management and Control Research Day. Photo: Edvin Landvik

Following a coffee break, the program continued with presentations on scale-up challenges in the Swedish Armed Forces and scenario-based planning in healthcare preparedness. These sessions highlighted how management and control systems can operate under pressure and how organizations can strengthen their ability to respond to complex and uncertain environments.

Participants networking and continuing discussions during the lunch break at the Management and Control Research Day. Photo: Edvin Landvik

In the afternoon, the program turned to public-sector resilience, preparedness in social services, crisis leadership, and the role of trust in vulnerable situations. A structured plenary discussion then explored how management and control research can create greater impact in the field of security and resilience.

The day ended with a keynote by David Bergman, lieutenant colonel in the Swedish Armed Forces, researcher, and author, who spoke about how humans react in times of war. This was followed by a joint dinner concluding a full day of knowledge sharing, new perspectives, and relationship building.

Audience discussions during CfSR’s Management and Control Research Day focused on resilience, preparedness, and crisis leadership. Photo: Edvin Landvik

CfSR is already planning its next Management and Control Research Day this fall.

“Next time we are going to focus more on hands-on development of research papers building on the presentations in our first workshop. We are very much looking forward to updating you on the topics and themes in the months to come,” says Lukas Goretzki.