THE PHASES OF A WARGAME

There are five phases of creating a Wargame. We will talk about each one in turn but below is a brief description of each:

• Initiate: During the Initiate phase, we engage the sponsor and form a core wargaming team. The sponsor helps us determine the Wargame’s objectives and potential issues while our team helps us scope the program and create a Data Collection and Management Plan (DCMP)
• Design: During the design phase, we continue to develop the DCMP while determining the Wargame scenario, methods, models, tools, and roles. Most importantly during this phase, we determine what data needs to be collected, and how to collect it, while during the playing of the wargame.
• Develop: During the development phase, we playtest all components of ht wargame, including a blind playtest and a full dress rehearsal. These sessions of playtesting often lead us back to the design phase as we cyclically develop our wargame.
• Conduct: The conduct phase of creating a Wargame begins with the full dress rehearsal of the Wargame from the development phase. When we conduct the Wargame, we implement the DCMP by collecting data and managing the players. We also develop exercise contingencies, as necessary, during this phase. This phase ends when we have begun to develop a Quick Look Report.
• Analyze: The analyze phase consists of completing the Quick Look Report and reviewing and processing the data obtained during the Wargame. We use these artifacts to develop the final results and write the final report.