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‍Project background

Increasing animal disease pressure across Europe is raising the need for robust crisis preparedness within the livestock sector. As the largest bovine genetics provider in Switzerland, Swissgenetics engaged in a simulation exercise to proactively strengthen its readiness for potential outbreak scenarios. Organizations in this context must be able to respond quickly and effectively to emerging threats while managing uncertainty, stakeholder expectations, and operational continuity. Simulation exercises provide a structured approach to testing existing plans and identifying gaps before a real incident occurs.

Our Work

We designed and facilitated a tailored, scenario-based crisis simulation aligned with the operational context of Swissgenetics. The exercise unfolded dynamically over the course of the day, with new information, stakeholder interactions, and escalating complexity introduced in real time.

Our work included:

• Development of the crisis scenario and escalation logic
• Real-time facilitation, including simulated input from authorities, customers, and media
• Observation and analysis of team performance, communication flows, and decision-making processes
• Moderation of a structured debriefing session to reflect on actions and underlying assumptions

The focus was on testing coordination, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and strengthening communication under time pressure.

Results

The exercise provided actionable insights into crisis management capabilities and organizational readiness. It led to the identification of strengths as well as areas for improvement in coordination and communication, while also increasing awareness of how decision-making unfolds under conditions of uncertainty. In addition, the exercise enabled the validation and refinement of existing crisis management structures and processes and strengthened alignment within the crisis team through shared practical experience. A comprehensive report was delivered, summarizing key observations and offering recommendations to further enhance the organization’s preparedness.