[CM] Designing and Developing an Incident Simulation CM Exercise

Designing and Developing an Incident Simulation CM Exercise

Designing and developing an incident simulation crisis management exercise involves careful planning, scenario creation, stakeholder engagement, and evaluation.

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

Step-by-Step Guide to Designing an Incident CM Exercise

Below is a step-by-step guide to help you create an effective crisis simulation:

Define Objectives & Scope

Purpose: What do you want to achieve? (e.g., test response protocols, improve decision-making, train teams)
Scope: What type of crisis will you simulate? (e.g., cyberattack, natural disaster, PR crisis, supply chain disruption)
Audience: Who will participate? (e.g., executives, IT, PR, operations, external agencies)

Assemble a Planning Team

Include representatives from key departments (security, legal, HR, IT, PR).
Assign roles: Facilitators, Controllers, Evaluators, Actors (role-players).

Develop the Scenario

Choose a realistic crisis (e.g., data breach, workplace violence, product recall).
Define triggers & timeline (e.g., how the incident escalates).
Inject surprises (e.g., media inquiries, social media backlash, secondary incidents).
Consider multi-stage scenarios to test different response phases.

Design the Exercise

Type of Exercise:
- Tabletop Exercise (TTX): Discussion-based, low-pressure.
- Functional Exercise: Simulates real-time response without field deployment.
- Full-Scale Exercise: Realistic, high-pressure simulation with field operations.
Format: In-person, hybrid, or virtual (using crisis management software).
Duration: Typically 1-4 hours, depending on complexity.

Prepare Materials & Logistics

Briefing documents (background, roles, rules).
Simulated media feeds (fake news alerts, social media posts).
Communication tools (emails, mock phone calls, chat platforms).
Evaluation forms (for observers to assess performance).

Conduct the Exercise

Kickoff: Brief participants on objectives, rules, and roles.
Run the simulation: Introduce injects (e.g., "A hacker claims responsibility on Twitter").
Monitor & adapt: Controllers adjust difficulty based on responses.
Debrief: Hold a hot wash-up session immediately after.

Evaluate & Improve

Collect feedback from participants and observers.
Identify gaps in procedures, communication, or decision-making.
Update crisis plans based on lessons learned.
Follow-up training to address weaknesses.

Key Considerations for Success

Realism: Make the scenario believable but not overwhelming.
Psychological Safety: Ensure participants feel comfortable making mistakes.
Legal & Ethical Boundaries: Avoid sensitive topics that could cause distress.
Iterative Testing: Run regular drills to refine responses.

Example Scenario: Cyberattack Simulation

Trigger: "IT detects ransomware encrypting critical files."
Injects:
- "Hacker demands $1M in Bitcoin."
- "Customers report data leaks on social media."
- "Regulators request a breach notification report within 24 hours."
Evaluation Focus:
- Was the incident response team activated quickly?
- How was stakeholder communication handled?
- Were backups and recovery plans effective?

Tools & Resources

Crisis Simulation Platforms: Inkling, CrisisSim.
Communication Tools: Slack, Microsoft Teams (for mock alerts).
Evaluation Frameworks: ISO 22398 (Guidelines for exercises).

This structured approach can create a realistic, impactful crisis simulation that strengthens organisational resilience.

Types of Crisis Management Exercises

Design and Develop Crisis Management Exercises

More Information About Crisis Management Courses

To learn more about the course and schedule, click the buttons below for the CM-300 Crisis Management Implementer [CM-3] and the CM-5000 Crisis Management Expert Implementer [CM-5].