Crisis Management Days

Challenges and perspectives of the organization of crisis management exercises

Igor Milić

Lecturer

Petar Vitas

Kristina Milić

Keywords: Exercise, crisis management, exercise plan, analysis, operational action

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Abstract

Exercises represent one of the fundamental tools for assessing the preparedness and effectiveness of crisis management. Their role is not limited solely to testing operational procedures but also includes evaluating the level of coordination among different stakeholders, the ability to make decisions under conditions of uncertainty, as well as the functionality of communication and coordination structures. In contemporary security conditions, characterized by increasingly frequent disasters, technological accidents, and hybrid threats, crisis management exercises gain additional importance as an instrument for strengthening system resilience.

The aim of this paper is to analyse the process of planning, organizing, and conducting crisis management exercises, with a particular focus on the civil protection system. Special attention is given to identifying key challenges that arise during the preparation and implementation of exercises, including limited resources, insufficient inter-institutional cooperation, uneven levels of participant training, and inadequate integration of identified lessons learned into planning documents and future exercises. The paper also examines different types of exercises and their applicability in various crisis scenarios. Particular emphasis is placed on exercises based on mass casualty scenarios, which require a comprehensive approach to planning and implementation.

The methodological approach is based on the analysis of relevant literature and case studies from practice, with a focus on experiences within the civil protection system. Through this analysis, key elements of effective exercises are identified, including the importance of clearly defined objectives, realistic scenarios, the involvement of all relevant stakeholders in the planning process, the development of exercise documentation, and the implementation and evaluation of exercises.

Based on the findings, a new model for organizing exercises is proposed, which includes the standardization of planning processes, strengthening cross-sectoral cooperation, the use of modern technologies (such as simulation centres), and the establishment of a continuous lessons learned process. The paper particularly emphasizes that crisis management exercises must be integrated into the process for development of operational capacities to effectively contribute to increasing the preparedness of operational forces for crisis situations.

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References

Moore, T., Lakha R. (2006) Tolley's Handbook of Disaster and Emergency Management, 3rd Edition. Taylor & Francis. United Kingdom.

Phelps, R. (2010). Emergency Management Exercises: From Response to Recovery: Everything you need to know to design a great exercise. Chandi Media. USA.

Coppola, D.P.: (2015) International Disaster Management. Butterworth-Heinemann. USA.

Rubens, D. (2023). Strategic Risk and Crisis Management – Handbook for modelling and managing complex risks. Kogan Page. United Kingdom.