[CM] Designing and Developing a Full Simulation CM Exercise

Designing and Developing a Full Simulation CM Exercise

Designing and developing a full-simulation crisis management exercise (or a full-scale exercise) involves creating a highly realistic, immersive scenario that tests an organisation’s crisis response framework under pressure.

Pre-reading for Participants Attending Module 4 of the CM-5000 Crisis Management Expert Implementer Course

This exercise requires extensive planning, coordination, and execution to simulate real-world conditions effectively.

Step-by-Step Guide to Designing a Full Simulation Exercise

Define Objectives & Scope

• Purpose: Test end-to-end crisis response (e.g., decision-making, communication, resource deployment).

• Scope: Simulate a large-scale, high-impact scenario (e.g., cyberattack, natural disaster, workplace violence).

• Audience: Involve all critical teams (executives, security, IT, PR, legal, ops, external agencies).

Assemble a Planning Team

• Exercise Director (oversees the entire simulation).

• Scenario Designers (develop realistic crisis injects).

• Controllers (manage the flow of the exercise).

• Evaluators (assess performance and gaps).

• Role-Players (act as media, hackers, victims, etc.).

Develop a High-Impact Scenario

• Choose a worst-case but plausible crisis (e.g., ransomware attack + data leak + regulatory scrutiny).

• Create a multi-stage timeline (escalating events over hours/days).

• Design realistic injects (e.g., fake news reports, simulated system failures, mock law enforcement involvement).

Plan Logistics & Resources

• Location: Use real-world settings (HQ, backup sites, virtual war rooms).

• Technology:

  • Simulated IT outages (e.g., mock ransomware screen).

  • Fake social media/news sites.

  • Crisis management software (e.g., Everbridge, OnSolve).

• Props:

  • Mock emergency alerts.

  • Actor scripts (e.g., panicked employees, aggressive reporters).

Conduct Pre-Exercise Briefings

• Participants: Explain rules, objectives, and safety protocols.

• Controllers & Evaluators: Ensure they understand their roles.

• Media & External Stakeholders (if involved): Brief on simulated roles.

Execute the Full-Scale Simulation

• Phase 1: Crisis Eruption (e.g., "Explosion reported at Facility X").

• Phase 2: Escalation (e.g., "Casualties reported, media arrives").

• Phase 3: Decision-Making Under Pressure (e.g., "CEO must approve a public statement").

• Phase 4: Recovery & Lessons Learned (e.g., "IT restores systems, PR handles backlash").

Hot Wash-Up & Formal Debrief

• Immediate Feedback: Quick discussion right after the exercise.

• Structured Evaluation:

  • What worked?

  • What failed?

  • Were protocols followed?

  • Were decisions timely and effective?

• After-Action Report (AAR): Document findings and update crisis plans.

Example: Full-Scale Cyberattack Simulation

Scenario: "State-sponsored hackers breach systems, steal data, and demand ransom."

Exercise Flow

1. Trigger: IT detects unusual network activity → Confirms ransomware encryption.

2. Injects:

   • A fake ransom note appears on the screens.

   • Hackers leak customer data on dark web.

   • Media calls for comment.

   • Regulators demand a breach report within 24h.

3. Response Tested:

   • IT incident response.

   • Executive decision-making.

   • PR & legal coordination.

   • Employee & customer communication.

Key Considerations for Success

✅ Realism: Make it as lifelike as possible without causing panic.
✅ Psychological Safety: Ensure participants know it’s a learning experience.
✅ Unpredictability: Add unexpected twists (e.g., a key person is unavailable).
✅ Iterative Improvement: Use findings to refine crisis plans.

Tools & Resources for Full-Scale Simulations

• Crisis Management Platforms: Everbridge, OnSolve, Siemens Xcelerator.

• Simulation Software: Tabletop Simulator, CrisisSim.

• Fake Media Generators:

  • Mock news websites (e.g., using WordPress templates).

  • Simulated social media bots (e.g., Twitter/X parody accounts).

Final Thoughts

A full simulation crisis exercise is the gold standard for stress-testing an organisation’s readiness. By simulating a high-pressure, real-world scenario, you can identify weaknesses, improve coordination, and build muscle memory for actual crises.