Getting the Exercise Type Right
Why Words Matter When Talking About an Exercise
This article is part of the “Project Management in Emergency Management Playbook” for Academy Subscribers.
Pre-disaster exercises are powerful tools for preparing your organization to handle disruptions, crises, and emergencies. Done well, they build the muscle memory your teams need and instill confidence for high-pressure decision-making. Done poorly, however, exercises can undermine readiness, drain resources, and even leave teams less confident than before they started.
Too often, the root cause of ineffective exercises isn’t a lack of effort, but leaders inadvertently choosing the wrong type of exercise. Words matter deeply in this context. A “tabletop exercise” is different from a “drill” that executives simply participate in while sitting around a conference table. Similarly, asking for a “full-scale exercise” when you really just need targeted practice often leads to an exercise planning process that spirals unnecessarily out of control.
This article will help you confidently select the right type of exercise to achieve your organization’s true preparedness goals, avoid costly misunderstandings, and maximize the value of every exercise you conduct.