With a view towards suggesting improvements to the official UK Guidance for disaster exercises, this paper critically examines a representative sample of recent disaster management exercises in the United Kingdom to determine how they are planned, conducted and assessed. Personal observations and in-depth qualitative interviews were used to study three representative multi-agency disaster exercises in the UK: (1) the Hitachi 395 Evacuation Workshop and Exercise Twin Bore, (2) Exercise Saxon Shore and (3) Exercise Operation Safe Return. The research demonstrates that disaster exercises in the UK generally consist of four main approaches: (1) disaster response and adaptability, (2) building-block approach, (3) citizen participation and (4) discussion-based debriefs. While the data demonstrates that each of these approaches has significant merit, it also elucidates key improvements that should be made to the official UK guidance and reflected in future exercises. In particular, the research suggests that the Guidance should highlight the importance of adaptability at the scene of a disaster, advance a building-block methodology to organising exercises and reiterate the need for better debriefings of volunteer participants.
Purpose -The main purpose of this paper is to explore the current practices of simulation exercises in Korea and to make desirable recommendations for the future of Korean simulations to increase their learning effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach -This paper employs a case study strategy, and the data collection methods include documentary research, qualitative interviews, and participation observation. Three representative simulation exercises were observed: the Keungogae Subway Counter Terrorism Exercise 2009, the Safe Korea 2010 Earthquake Exercise, and the Safe Korea 2010 Subway Fire Exercise. Findings -The current practices of simulation exercises in Korea can be categorised into four main themes: top-level commitment and support; repeating training through rehearsals; box seats, illstructured scenario scripts, and a lack of adaptation; and podium and speech-based debriefing. Practical implications -Korean simulation exercises need to allow adaptation and diversion to take place, encouraging communication and discussion between exercise players. Furthermore, ensuing after-action reviews (debriefs) should be a discussion-orientated rather than evaluation-orientated to promote individual and organisational learning. The empirical findings and resulting recommendations of this paper can help Korean exercise planners to change their current flawed practices into evidence-based ones, setting a new direction for an effective simulation exercise model. Originality/value -This study is the first empirical research to investigate simulation exercises in Korea and to highlight their problems.
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