What resource management task determines the type and quantity of resources needed?

The task that focuses on determining the type and quantity of resources needed is identifying requirements. This task involves analyzing and understanding the specific needs of an incident or operation, which is crucial for effective resource management. By identifying requirements, emergency managers can ensure that they acquire the right resources in the right amounts, thereby enhancing coordination and efficiency in response efforts.

In this context, identifying requirements serves as a foundational step in the resource management process, setting the stage for subsequent tasks such as assessing capabilities, allocating resources, and requesting resources. Each of these other tasks builds on the information gleaned from identifying requirements, ensuring that resources are matched appropriately to the needs of the situation.

Assessing capability, for instance, evaluates what resources are available and their readiness, while allocating resources involves distributing those resources according to established priorities. Requesting resources is the process of asking for additional or specific resources based on identified needs. However, all these actions stem from the initial understanding derived from correctly identifying the requirements at the outset.