Collective sensemaking within institutions: Control of the COVID‐19 epidemic in Vietnam. (23rd September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pham, Chuong H.; Nguyen, Thang V.; Bach, Thang N.; Le, Canh Q.; Nguyen, Hung V.
• Other Names: Smoke Paul guestEditor.; Tosun Mehmet Serkan guestEditor.; Yilmaz Serdar guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Public administration and development. Volume 43:Number 2(2023)
• Page Start: 150
• Page End: 162
• Publication Date: 2022-09-23
• Subjects: collective sensemaking -- COVID‐19 -- institutional propensity for prevention -- Vietnam; Developing countries -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; Public administration -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Développement communautaire -- Pays en voie de développement -- Périodiques; Pays en voie de développement -- Administration -- Périodiques; Pays en voie de développement -- Conditions économiques -- Périodiques; Pays en voie de développement -- Conditions sociales -- Périodiques; 350
• DOI: 10.1002/pad.1996
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0271-2075

Abstract

Abstract: How people make initial and collective sense under crises remains unanswered. This paper addresses this question using the control of COVID‐19 in Vietnam as a case study. Our results suggest that sensemaking under crises is influenced by an institutional propensity for prevention that has developed gradually over time. Local governments play a vital role in fostering collective sensemaking which enables concerted actions in epidemic control. However, biases are inherent in sensemaking, including a delay in access to vaccine and a violation of privacy. For policy makers, this study suggests that developing specific prevention policies and programs, building large‐scale coordination capacity, and promoting local initiatives are necessary for coping with epidemics. For theory development, the study explores how institutions condition sensemaking and specifies several mechanisms in which local authorities could facilitate collective sensemaking in crises.