Simulation exercises involve only key participants rather than all personnel that could be involved in a real incident

Simulation exercises are always discussion-based

Participants are provided with the full detail of the scenario prior to the exercise commencing, including any information and materials on issues that will arise during the scenario so they can be fully prepared

There are no time constraints as the exercise is not running in real time so participants can take time to discuss issues that arise and alternative ways to address them

A

Simulation exercises are designed to mimic real incident responses in as close to a real-time environment as possible but usually involve only the key personnel whose roles are critical in managing the disruption. The CBCI 7.0 materials specify that simulation exercises test the decision-making, coordination, and response of these essential participants rather than the entire workforce, ensuring focused and practical validation of plans and capabilities. They differ from discussion-based exercises, which involve broader participation and are scenario discussions without time constraints. Simulation exercises maintain real-time pressures and operational realism, although full scenario details are typically not disclosed upfront to simulate uncertainty.