'AGU', 'BIPA' Conduct study on Bahrain's successful crises management amidst 'Covid19' pandemic

Manama, Apr. 29 (BNA): In a scientific cooperation between Bahrain Institute for Public Administration (BIPA) and the Arabian Gulf University (AGU), a joint research team was recently formed, in coordination with the Supreme Council for Health (SCE), to study the concept of crisis-based innovation amidst the Coronavirus (Covid19) pandemic. The study aims to set a theoretical framework for dealing with crises basing on measuring the awareness of people with regards to dealing with the Covid19 pandemic and determining its impact on different sectors. On the occasion, AGU President Dr Khalid Al Ohaly lauded Bahrain's excellence in managing the ongoing health crisis, owing it to wise vision, directives and care of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Dr Al Ohaly also noted to the instructions issued by the Prime Minister His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa based on three basic concepts of leadership; adherence to the spirit of innovation, foreseeing the future and setting options for emerging developments in crisis management. Commenting further, Dr Al Ohaly said: "These three elements are, in fact, an empowering essence and spirit that reflect the main features of wise leadership, and it is what the concerned government authorities are implementing in their battle against the Coronavirus pandemic." "The efforts devoted by the Government of Bahrain through the Coordination Committee, led by the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, is considered a pioneering, brilliant and creative model and on the highest levels of excellence in crisis management; a matter that attracted the attention of international organisations, which praised the efficiency of the Kingdom of Bahrain in managing this crisis," Dr Al Ohaly stated. He added that the strategic partnership with BIPA is derived from AGU's leading role to combat strategic issues in the GCC, based on its specialisations in innovation management and crisis management, and comes in implementation of HRH the Premier's directives to coordinate with the Institute and SCE to prepare a study on the creative and innovative aspects that characterised the efforts made by the Government Bahrain through the Coordination Committee to combat the Covid19 pandemic. For his part, BIPA Director General Dr Raed Mohammed Binshams asserted that the wise handling of the crisis by the Kingdom resulted in the protection of citizens and residents, while at the same time safeguarding the economic life and ensuring its continuity. Dr Binshams highlighted the harmony between the various institutions and bodies in both the public and private sectors, and employing national competencies in an innovative manner to deal with the different crises and challenges, adding that the Bahraini experiment shall be transformed into an international model in dealing with crises to be followed in various countries of the world. "The remarkable accomplishments and social unity achieved by the Kingdom of Bahrain shall reach the world in a scientific and applied methodology that is based on scientific facts and data. This shall transform this national innovation culture into an international innovation culture to deal with all sorts of crises," Dr Binshams added. It is worth mentioning that the study has several objectives, such as measuring the the public sector's ability to respond to crises, developing a flexible administrative system so that it generates institutional knowledge through which a deeper understanding of people's response to government directives is drawn, measuring the efficiency of senior management in the public sector in utilising social media platforms and sending informative media messages that change the knowledge, behaviour and attitudes of citizens and residents. AGU's Innovation Management Department Head and Member of the Team Supervising the Study Dr Odeh Al Jayyousi said: "Scientific research related to the concept of crisis-based innovation is of great importance in handling many crises, especially the current and potential future risks posed by Covid19 pandemic, which impacted global supply chains, and brought about a fundamental change in business models at the level of institutions and governments." He added: "This study contributes to promoting innovation in the government sector through the adoption of user-based innovation or open innovation, which require a restructuring of processes, procedures and service provision. It is hoped that this participatory study will contribute to developing an innovative system for dealing with crises, developing innovative institutional capabilities and generating databases for more future scientific research that would also benefit AGU's PhD students."