Scenarioøving

Scenarioøving is a training approach in which participants practice responses to realistic, often hypothetical, situations by working through prepared scenarios. The method emphasizes experiential learning, decision making under pressure, and communication across roles and organizations. It is used across fields such as emergency management, healthcare, aviation, education, and corporate risk.

The practice typically follows a cycle of design, execution, and evaluation. Scenarios are created with clear objectives, roles are assigned, and constraints, resources, and escalation paths are defined. The simulation may be conducted as a tabletop exercise, a computer-based drill, a functional drill, or a full-scale live exercise. Facilitators guide the session, observe performance, and steer a structured debrief to capture lessons learned. Debriefs focus on what was done well, what could be improved, and how plans or procedures should be revised. Scenarios should mirror probable risks and include trigger points, decision points, and consequences to illuminate gaps in plans, training, or coordination.

Common variants include tabletop exercises (discussion-based), functional drills (testing specific functions or processes), and full-scale exercises (live operations in a real environment). Benefits include improved readiness, better teamwork and communication, and validated response plans. Challenges involve resource intensity, maintaining realism without overburdening participants, ensuring psychological safety, and delivering high-quality debriefs. Scenarioøving remains a central method for building practical competence across disciplines.