The number of reported disasters has increased steadily over the past century and risen very sharply during the past decade. Consequently the loss of lives, property, employment and damage to the physical infrastructure and the environment is also on the rise. Knowledge management can play a vital role through ensuring the availability and accessibility of accurate and reliable disaster risk information when required and through effective lesson learning. In this context, identification of key disaster knowledge factors will be an enabler to manage disasters successfully. The paper presents key knowledge factors relating to disaster management cycle, and explores a few challenges relating to identified disaster knowledge factors. A list of disaster knowledge factors was first identified through a comprehensive literature review and later semi-structured interviews were conducted among few disaster management practitioners to explore the influence and challenges relating to identified knowledge factors. Technological, operational/ managerial, economic, social, legal and environmental factors seem to have direct influence over the disaster management cycle, while the influence of institutional and political factors seemed indirect and it is through other factors identified. Among key challenges, the lack of detection and warning systems, the need for effective education, training and awareness raising programmes, the need for regular updating of disaster related laws, lack of funds for economic planning measures, poor planning, poor communication, poor leadership, and poor institutional arrangement were highlighted.

The number of reported natural disasters has increased steadily over the past century and risen very sharply during the past decade. These bring about the loss of lives, property, employment and damage to the physical infrastructure and the environment. Disaster management efforts aim to reduce or avoid the potential losses from hazards, assure prompt and appropriate assistance to victims of disaster, and achieve rapid and effective recovery. While knowledge management can enhance the process of disaster management, there is a perceived gap in information coordination and sharing within the context of disaster management. Identifying key success factors will be an enabler to manage the disasters successfully. In this context, this study aims to identify and map key knowledge success factors for managing disasters successfully through capturing the good practices and lessons learned. The objective of this paper is to present the literature findings on factors which support successful disaster management. Accordingly the identified factors were classified into eight main categories as technological, social, legal, environmental, economic, functional, institutional and political. Santruka Pastaraji amžiu pranešimu apie stichines nelaimes nuolat daugejo, o pastaraji dešimtmeti ypač. Per nelaimes žūsta žmones, prarandama nuosavybe ir darbo vietos, suniokojama fizine infrastruktūra ir aplinka. Valdant nelaimes siekiama sumažinti arba išvengti potencialiu nuostoliu del pavoju, užtikrinti greita ir tinkama pagalba nelaimes aukoms, viska greitai bei efektyviai atkurti. Nors žiniu vadyba nelaimiu valdymo procesui gali padeti, nelaimiu valdymo kontekste pastebima spraga tarp informacijos koordinavimo ir dalijimosi ja. Nustačius pagrindinius sekmes veiksnius, tai leis sekmingai valdyti nelaimes. Šiame kontekste tyrimu siekiama nustatyti ir surūšiuoti pagrindinius žiniu sekmes veiksnius, leidžiančius sekmingai valdyti nelaimes, užfiksuojant geraja patirti ir išmoktas pamokas. Šio darbo tikslas – pateikti literatūros išvadas apie veiksnius, kurie prisideda prie sekmingo nelaimiu valdymo. Nustatyti veiksniai atitinkamai suklasifikuoti i aštuonias pagrindines kategorijas: technologiniai, socialiniai, teisiniai, aplinkos, ekonominiai, funkciniai, instituciniai ir politiniai.

aBStract. addressing housing needs in post conflict housing reconstruction leads to successful housing reconstruction. as part of a study of investigating how the housing needs can be effectively addressed in post conflict housing reconstruction, this paper identifies the gaps in managing housing needs in post conflict housing reconstruction within the context of Sri Lanka and presents the recommendations to minimise such gaps. Data was collected through un-structured interviews conducted with 37 participants, comprising policy makers, practitioners, academics and beneficiaries who engaged in post conflict housing reconstruction in Sri Lanka. Gaps were mainly found in conflict sensitivity, measures related to physical housing, performance of implementing agencies, policy and practice issues. on the job training, application of 'do no harm' principles, enhanced beneficiary participation, enhanced accountability, effective monitoring, enhanced knowledge sharing, adequate drinking water facilities, irrigation development and initiatives for material manufacturing were suggested as recommendations to minimise these gaps. identification of gaps in managing housing needs in post conflict housing reconstruction and recommendations to minimise them inform policy makers to address the housing needs effectively through incorporating these aspects into the related policies. This in turn enhances the sustainability in housing development after conflicts.

Background: Cognitive Muscular TherapyTM (CMT) is an integrated behavioural intervention developed for knee osteoarthritis. CMT teaches patients to reconceptualise the condition, integrates muscle biofeedback and aims to reduce muscle overactivity, both in response to pain and during daily activities. This nested qualitative study explored patient and physiotherapist perspectives and experiences of CMT.Methods: Five physiotherapists were trained to follow a well-defined protocol and then delivered CMT to at least two patients with knee osteoarthritis. Each patient received seven individual clinical sessions and was provided with access to online learning materials incorporating animated videos. Semi-structured interviews took place after delivery/completion of the intervention and data were analysed at the patient and physiotherapist level.Results: Five physiotherapists and five patients were interviewed. All described a process of changing beliefs throughout their engagement with CMT. A framework with three phases was developed to organise the data according to how osteoarthritis was conceptualised and how this changed throughout their interactions with CMT. Firstly, was an identification of pain beliefs to be challenged and recognition of how current beliefs can misalign with daily experiences. Secondly was a process of challenging and changing beliefs, validated through new experiences. Finally, there was an embedding of changed beliefs into self-management to continue with activities. Conclusion:This study identified a range of psychological changes which occur during exposure to CMT. These changes enabled patients to reconceptualise their condition, develop a new understanding of their body, understand psychological processes, and make sense of their knee pain.

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Purpose – Despite the role of post conflict housing reconstruction in establishing the development of peace in conflict affected countries, there are many issues which hinder its success. While the inconsideration of housing needs in post conflict housing reconstruction has directly or indirectly given rise for most of the issues, the countries emerging from conflicts face many challenges in addressing such housing needs. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the management of housing needs in post conflict housing reconstruction. This paper aims to focus on identifying the challenges in addressing housing needs within the context of post conflict housing reconstruction in Sri Lanka. Design/methodology/approach – The study used the grounded theory approach to collect and analyse the data collected through 37 in-depth interviews, conducted with policy makers, practitioners, academics and housing beneficiaries in Sri Lanka. Primary data were verified through a documents review. Findings – The paper reveals that addressing housing needs in post conflict housing reconstruction in Sri Lanka is challenging, due to several factors. These include the socio economic profile of conflict affected people, conflict sensitive issues, donor requirements, limited availability of finance, weakened government administration, extent of housing and infrastructure damage, attitudes of affected people, land-related issues and shortage of labour and material. Originality/value – A number of studies have identified the challenges of post conflict reconstruction. This study particularly identifies the challenges of addressing housing needs in post conflict housing reconstruction. These findings are useful for policy makers to develop strategies in addressing housing needs in post conflict housing reconstruction.

Purpose: Post conflict housing reconstruction is crucial to development and peacekeeping. However, the success of it is hindered by a number of problems related to lack of addressing housing needs. This paper explores how such housing needs can be effectively managed in post conflict housing reconstruction in Sri Lanka.Design: Using the grounded theory method as the research strategy, unstructured interviews were conducted with policy makers, practitioners, beneficiaries and academics in Sri Lanka. Data were analysed using open, axial and selective coding to develop the theoretical framework. Findings:The study reveals the challenges, contributing factors and strategies in addressing housing needs of accessibility, habitability, affordability, location, facilities, cultural considerations and security of land tenure. It also identifies the gaps and recommendations. The paper establishes the links between these and presents a theoretical framework for managing housing needs effectively in post conflict housing reconstruction in Sri Lanka.Implications: This research enhances the success of post conflict housing reconstruction through addressing housing needs effectively, which contributes to sustainable housing development after conflicts. Originality:The study combines literature from five main areas: conflicts, post conflict, post conflict reconstruction, post conflict housing reconstruction and housing needs and provides a better understanding on how the housing needs can be managed during post conflict housing reconstruction in developing countries based on empirical evidence.

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