Analysing your working environment

It is very important to know and understand as much as possible about the context you are working in. A good analysis of that context enables informed decisions about which security rules and procedures to apply. It is also important to think about possible future scenarios, in order, where possible, to take preventive action.

However, simply analysing your working environment isn’t enough. You also need to look at how each intervention could affect the situation and how other actors might react to each one. It is also important to take into account the dimensions of a work scenario. You can undertake an analysis at macro level by studying a country or a region, but you also have to find out how those macro dynamics function in the particular area where you are working, i.e. the micro dynamics. For instance, paramilitaries in one local area may act differently to how you might expect following a regional or national analysis. You need to be aware of such local characteristics. It is also crucial to avoid having a fixed view of a work scenario, because situations evolve and change. They should therefore be reviewed regularly.

Asking Questions, the Force Field Analysis and the Stakeholder Analysis are three useful methods for analysing your working environment: