[CM] [SIT] [E3] [TE] [CS] [3] Design Profile for Severe Haze Scenario

Information to Complete the Design Profile: Walkthrough Test Template

Objective

To validate the feasibility and completeness of SIT's Crisis Management Plan and Severe Haze Crisis Playbook by enabling participants to verbally Walkthrough (or Tabletop Exercise) the actions required before, during, and after a prolonged transboundary haze event.

The exercise will verify that crisis management procedures, decision-making processes, communication arrangements, academic continuity measures, research continuity strategies, and recovery activities are understood and can be effectively executed by all responsible teams.

Click the icon "Design Profile - Walkthrough Test" to view the template.

Type of Exercise

Walk-through Exercise (Table-top Discussion)

Passive Exercise

Scope and Scale

Exercise Type

Passive

Degree of Involvement

Multi-department institutional walk-through involving all members of the Crisis Management Team and key operational support departments.

The exercise covers:

• Preparedness
• Response
• Recovery
• Return to Business as Usual

Components to be Tested

Success Criteria

The exercise will be considered successful if:

• Participants clearly understand their crisis management responsibilities.
• Crisis escalation triggers are understood and agreed.
• Decision-making authority is clearly defined.
• Academic continuity arrangements are validated.
• Research continuity procedures are practical.
• Health protection measures are adequate.
• Internal and external communication procedures are effective.
• Coordination between departments is seamless.
• No significant disagreements exist regarding roles, responsibilities, or response procedures.
• Gaps, ambiguities, or conflicting procedures are identified and documented.
• All objectives are completed within the allocated exercise duration.

Essential Pre-Conditions

Prior to the exercise:

• The Severe Haze Crisis Playbook has been approved.
• The Crisis Management Plan has been distributed.
• Business Continuity Plans have been updated.
• Academic Continuity Plans are current.
• Crisis Management Team members have received role briefings.
• Current organisational charts and contact lists are available.
• Relevant government haze advisory procedures are available for reference.

Participants

Internal

• Crisis Director
• Crisis Management Team
• Executive Management
• Provost
• Deans
• Student Affairs
• Campus Facilities Management
• Health, Safety and Environment
• Human Resources
• Corporate Communications
• Information Technology
• Campus Security
• Business Continuity Manager
• Academic Registry
• Research Office
• Procurement
• Finance
• Legal Counsel
• Residential Services
• Student Health Services

External (Optional)

• Ministry of Education (Observer)
• National Environment Agency
• Ministry of Health
• Campus medical provider
• Business continuity facilitator
• Independent exercise controller

Conduct of Exercise

Date

To be determined

Time

0900 – 1200 hrs

Duration

Approximately 3 hours

Location

SIT Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) or designated Crisis Management Room

Alternative:

Virtual Crisis Management Platform

Frequency

Mandatory

• Once every year, before the regional haze season (July)

Desirable

• Following any significant update to the Crisis Management Plan or Severe Haze Playbook.

Notice Requirement

Formal notification issued at least three weeks before the exercise.

Participant Briefing

Participants receive:

• Exercise objectives
• Exercise rules
• Agenda
• Crisis scenario
• Organisation charts
• Crisis Management Plan
• Severe Haze Playbook
• Campus maps
• Government haze advisory references
• Evaluation criteria

Exercise Scenario

Background

• It is early August.  

• Regional weather agencies report that a Super El Niño combined with a positive Indian Ocean Dipole has created exceptionally dry conditions across Indonesia.

• Extensive peatland and forest fires have intensified over several weeks.

• The Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) has issued a "Red" warning indicating a high probability of severe transboundary haze affecting Singapore.

• NEA forecasts indicate rapidly deteriorating air quality over the next 72 hours.

• Classes are scheduled to begin the following week.

• Numerous orientation programmes, laboratory practical sessions, outdoor fieldwork, sporting events, industry visits, and research activities are planned.

• Student hostels are fully occupied, and thousands of students and staff are expected on campus.

Exercise Walk-through Sequence

Phase 1 – Pre-Crisis

Participants discuss:

• Environmental monitoring
• Risk assessment
• Activation thresholds
• Crisis Management Team readiness
• Academic continuity preparation
• Business continuity readiness
• PPE inventory
• Communications planning
• External coordination
• Staff readiness
• Student preparedness

Expected outputs:

• Decision to increase readiness level.
• Confirmation of preparedness actions.
• Validation of escalation criteria.

Phase 2 – During Crisis

Discussion focuses on:

• Activation of the Crisis Management Team
• Emergency Operations Centre activation
• Situation assessment
• Distribution of N95 masks
• Suspension of outdoor activities
• Remote learning activation
• Laboratory operations
• Student welfare
• Staff safety
• Communications
• Media enquiries
• Government liaison
• Resource management
• Situation reporting

Expected outputs:

• Crisis declared.
• Protective measures implemented.
• Academic continuity activated.
• Critical operations maintained.

Phase 3 – Post Crisis

Participants discuss:

• Improvement in air quality
• Standing down the Crisis Management Team
• Reopening campuses
• Restoring laboratories
• Resuming face-to-face learning
• Student recovery
• Staff wellbeing
• Financial assessment
• After-Action Review
• Lessons learned
• Updating plans

Expected outputs:

• Safe return to normal operations.
• Recovery priorities confirmed.
• Improvement actions identified.

Exercise Controllers

Recommended:

• Lead Exercise Director
• Exercise Facilitator
• Crisis Management Observer
• Independent Evaluator
• Timekeeper
• Scribe

Controllers guide discussion but do not participate in decision-making.

Documentation

The following records will be maintained:

• Attendance register
• Exercise agenda
• Exercise injects
• Controller observation sheets
• Participant feedback forms
• Decision log
• Issues log
• Action register
• Lessons Learned Register
• Records of Exceptions Noted During Test

All documentation should be retained for audit purposes.

Review and Measurement

Immediately following the exercise, conduct a structured debrief covering:

• What worked well
• Areas requiring improvement
• Communication effectiveness
• Decision-making effectiveness
• Coordination between departments
• Academic continuity arrangements
• Student welfare
• Research continuity
• Business continuity integration
• Opportunities to strengthen resilience

Post-Exercise Action Plan

Following completion of the exercise:

• Prepare an Exercise Report.
• Prepare an After-Action Review (AAR).
• Document all observations.
• Assign corrective actions.
• Allocate action owners.
• Establish completion deadlines.
• Report findings to Executive Management.
• Track all improvement actions through the Crisis Management Programme.

Tracking, Maintenance and Follow-up

Following management approval:

• Update the Crisis Management Plan.
• Update the Severe Haze Crisis Playbook.
• Revise Academic Continuity Plans.
• Update Business Continuity Plans.
• Review communication templates.
• Revise escalation criteria where necessary.
• Schedule additional training where competency gaps are identified.
• Conduct a higher-level Incident Simulation Exercise after all corrective actions have been completed.