What is the objective of conducting an after-action review in ICS?

Conducting an after-action review in the Incident Command System (ICS) serves a crucial purpose in enhancing future operational effectiveness. The primary objective is to evaluate performance and identify lessons learned from the response to an incident. This review involves analyzing what went well, what did not, and the reasons behind both outcomes. The insights gathered during this process are essential for continuous improvement in emergency management practices.

Collecting feedback and lessons learned allows teams and organizations to refine their strategies, improve training, and adjust plans to mitigate similar issues in future incidents. This process also fosters a culture of accountability and learning within the organization, ensuring that information is documented and shared for the benefit of all stakeholders involved in emergency management.

The other options revolve around concepts that do not align with the core principle of after-action reviews. Increasing budgets or finalizing reports without feedback doesn't contribute to the goal of performance evaluation and learning. Promoting individual achievements also diverts attention from collective learning strategies that are vital for improving team performance in future responses. Thus, the focus on evaluating performance and identifying lessons learned encapsulates the fundamental objective of the after-action review.