Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
−
Problem Statements: discuss activities as group at large, learn about other
group policies and procedures, and identify enhancements for lines of
communication and integration of steps across plans.
−
Breakout groups: practice lines of communication between groups.
−
Provide an opportunity for key agencies and stakeholders to become
acquainted with one another, their interrelated roles, and their respective
responsibilities.
−
Practice, prepare, and review for more complex exercises.
It is important to take good notes of the possible changes and outcomes from
your tabletop. If you are the facilitator, you might ask the participants to
make notes in their SITMANS and provide the comments during the AAR
and Hotwash comment period at the end of the exercise. Also, have some
support to take notes for you and to capture the discussion. If information is
not readily available or the discussion gets stalled on a particular subject, take
control and have the topic tabled to be researched and settled at a later time.
Leadership
Tabletops require an experienced facilitator and an understanding of the roles
and responsibilities of the participating groups. The facilitator must have lead-
ership skills to control and guide the groups through their own processes and
aid in encouraging frank and comfortable discussion of the issues. This person
decides who gets a message or problem statement, calls on others to participate,
asks questions, and guides the participants toward sound decisions.
As the facilitator, understand that you will never know all the answers or
issues and you never will. The experts are in the room and it is your job to
guide and help them find the answers based on their expertise and knowl-
edge, not on what you assume to be the answer. If participants ask you what
you think should happen, ask them what they think it should be and what
they would need to get the topic addressed. If they cannot answer, ask every-
one in the room what they think should be done in regards to the question
and the scenario at hand.
Participants
The objectives of the exercise dictate who should participate. The exercise can
involve many people and many organizations: essentially anyone who can
learn from or contribute to the planned discussion items. This may include
all entities that have a policy, planning, or response role whether or not they
have a plan in place.
Facilities
The type of facility is defined to some degree by the number of participants
and the seating arrangement required by your exercise design. For a problem
statement format, you may need a room large enough to accommodate seating
arrangements in a U shape. If your exercise design is based on a simulated state-
ment with a breakout group format, the facility will need to be able to accom-
modate work groups at separate tables or have work groups in separate rooms.
