Simulation Execution
The execution phase is where participants actively engage with the crisis scenario, make decisions, and work together to manage the situation.What Happens During Execution
The active simulation includes:- Timeline Events: News, messages, status updates appear over time
- Decision Points: Critical choices the team must make
- Team Communication: Real-time chat and coordination
- Resource Access: Documents, data, and information
- AI Assistance: Guidance from AI mentor (if enabled)
- Progress Tracking: Live dashboard showing status
Participant Interface
Main Screen Layout
- Timeline Panel
- Decision Panel
- Communication Panel
- Resources Panel
Event Feed
- Chronological list of events
- Breaking news
- Incoming messages
- Status updates
- Scrollable history
Status Bar
Top of screen shows:- Simulation Timer: Time elapsed/remaining
- Crisis Status: Current situation severity
- Team Score: Live performance (if enabled)
- Notifications: Unread messages, new events
Making Decisions
Decision Process
1
Decision Appears
Alert notification and decision card in interface
2
Review Information
- Read decision context
- Review available options
- Check related resources
- Discuss with team (if time allows)
3
Select Option
Click or tap your choice
4
Confirm
Verify selection and submit
5
Feedback
Immediate or deferred feedback on choice
Decision Types
Individual Decisions
Made by participants with specific role authority
Team Decisions
Require team consensus or majority vote
Timed Decisions
Must be made within time limit or default option chosen
Sequential Decisions
Multi-step decisions building on each other
Decision-Making Guide
Detailed decision-making strategies
Responding to Events
Types of Events
News Updates- Breaking news reports
- Media coverage
- Public reaction
- External developments
- Emails from stakeholders
- Phone calls
- Text messages
- Social media mentions
- Crisis escalation/de-escalation
- Resource updates
- Casualties or damage reports
- Weather/environmental changes
Event Actions
When events appear:- Read Carefully: Understand what’s happening
- Extract Key Info: Identify critical details
- Share with Team: Communicate relevant information
- Consider Implications: How does this affect decisions?
- Document: Use notes feature to track important points
Team Collaboration
Effective Communication
Coordinate Roles
Coordinate Roles
Each team member monitors their area of responsibility and reports to the team.
Share Information
Share Information
Discuss Decisions
Discuss Decisions
Use chat to debate options before committing to team decisions.
Assign Tasks
Assign Tasks
Delegate research or analysis to team members based on roles.
Stay Organized
Stay Organized
Use structured communication (e.g., “Update: [Topic]”, “Decision needed: [Issue]“)
Chat Features
- @Mentions: Tag specific team members
- Channels: Separate conversations by topic
- Reactions: Quick acknowledgments
- File Sharing: Share screenshots or notes
- Search: Find past messages
Using Resources
Document Library
Access information:1
Open Resources Panel
Click resources icon or tab
2
Browse or Search
Find documents by category or keyword
3
View Document
Opens in modal or new tab
4
Extract Information
Read relevant sections
5
Share Insights
Communicate findings to team
Situation Dashboard
Real-time crisis metrics:- Severity Indicators: Color-coded status
- Key Metrics: Casualties, damage, resources
- Maps: Geographic visualization
- Charts: Trends over time
- Projections: Predicted outcomes
AI Mentor
When to Use
The AI mentor can help with:- Understanding Events: Clarify confusing information
- Decision Guidance: Suggest considerations (doesn’t make decision for you)
- Process Questions: How features work
- Best Practices: Crisis management principles
How to Interact
1
Open AI Mentor Chat
Click mentor icon or access from chat panel
2
Ask Question
Type your question naturally
3
Receive Guidance
AI provides contextual advice
4
Apply Insights
Use guidance to inform your decisions
The AI mentor provides guidance but won’t tell you the “correct” answer. It’s designed to help you think critically, not to do your work for you.
AI Mentor Guide
Learn more about AI assistance
Time Management
Pacing Strategies
- Early Phase
- Middle Phase
- Late Phase
First Third of Simulation
- Orient to situation
- Establish team communication
- Make initial assessments
- Don’t rush early decisions
Managing Time Pressure
Prioritize: Focus on high-impact decisions
Delegate: Divide research tasks among team
Set Internal Deadlines: Decide before timer expires
Avoid Paralysis: Good decision now beats perfect decision too late
Use Quick Votes: Don’t over-discuss obvious choices
Facilitator Controls
Monitoring the Simulation
Facilitators can see:- All Team Activity: Decisions, chat, progress
- Individual Contributions: Who’s active, who’s quiet
- Performance Metrics: Real-time scoring
- Technical Issues: Connection problems, errors
Intervention Options
- Pause
- Inject Event
- Messaging
- Extend Time
Pause Simulation
- Freeze timer and events
- Use for: Technical issues, breaks, discussions
- Resume when ready
Participant Best Practices
Stay Engaged
Stay Engaged
Actively participate throughout. Don’t drift off even if things seem slow.
Think Critically
Think Critically
Analyze information, question assumptions, consider alternatives.
Communicate Clearly
Communicate Clearly
Be concise and specific. In a crisis, clarity matters.
Respect Roles
Respect Roles
Honor role assignments. Don’t overstep or ignore your responsibilities.
Learn from Mistakes
Learn from Mistakes
If a decision goes poorly, reflect and adjust strategy.
Support Your Team
Support Your Team
Help struggling team members, share information, stay positive.
Completion
Automatic End
Simulation ends when:- Scheduled duration reached
- Final event triggers
- All critical decisions made
- Facilitator manually ends it
Transition to Debriefing
1
Execution Ends
Timer stops, no new events
2
Final Scoring
System calculates performance metrics
3
Message Appears
“Simulation Complete - Moving to Debriefing”
4
Auto-Redirect
Interface transitions to debriefing phase
Troubleshooting During Execution
Disconnected from simulation
Disconnected from simulation
- Check internet connection
- Refresh browser
- Rejoin simulation (progress should be saved)
- Contact facilitator if unable to rejoin
Events not appearing
Events not appearing
- Verify simulation has started
- Check timeline - events may not be scheduled yet
- Refresh page
- Alert facilitator if persistent
Can't submit decision
Can't submit decision
- Check if time limit expired
- Verify it’s your role’s decision
- Ensure option is selected
- Try refreshing and resubmitting
Chat not working
Chat not working
- Check connection indicator
- Refresh browser
- Try logging out and back in
- Use facilitator messaging if critical
Team member not responding
Team member not responding
- @Mention them directly
- Contact via different channel if available
- Alert facilitator
- Team may need to proceed without them