ABSTRACT
The emergence of a bureaucratic understanding of organizations and social institutions has brought forward the idea that it is necessary and possible to separate organizational structure from humans and their cultures. It leads to a practice where politicians and bureaucrats decide the organizational structures of public services and then what culture to develop within that structure. Operational practices are at the core of activities of public, private, or non-profit organizations that are designated and assigned to prepare for and respond to crises and emergencies, such as the police, military, fire departments, paramedics, hospital emergency units, and various types of rescue organizations. Bureaucratic leadership is associated with an instrumental and rational way of thinking. By contrast, operational leadership is associated with a group-based and mission-based practice. At the core of all organizational activity, however, there is a relational and communicative quality between people.
