This study aims to assess organisational emergency responses to COVID-19 from a social network analysis (SNA) perspective. This is the first study to evaluate the government’s emergency response to COVID-19.

Study design used content analyse focused on the Indonesia Taskforce Response to COVID-19. Taskforce members identified and analysed were 150 people. Data were obtained from a weekly Indonesian magazine, TEMPO, which reported on the government’s response to COVID-19 from early March to early April 2020. Data analysis used a Social Network Analysis tool.

The study found that the emergency response to a COVID-19 consisted of less solid, non-traditional structural interactions, and that the head of the task force played a lesser role in the response to such an outbreak. The dynamic roles of actors and their relationships within the group reflect the weaknesses of the organisational emergency response to COVID-19. Cultural aspects, the overlapping of regulations and the lack of communication between central and local governments may have contributed to the lack of cohesion in the organisational response. The content analysis found that the issues of concern to the team members included coordination, hoax, social distancing and the lack of testing equipment.

The results of the study are expected to add literatures of research on emergency response to pandemics. This study can assist decision makers and practitioners to design and manage cooperation amongst actors and their networks in future emergency response systems.