The Misfortune Cookie Training Game

A less formal way to test and generate a discussion about your organization's CPDR plans is by playing the Misfortune Cookie Game. You might consider conducting this exercise during a monthly staff meeting, or perhaps you might serve up a bit of training for dessert at a staff lunch. No matter how or when you conduct this exercise, it will surely prove to be a fun way to get your staff thinking and talking about what they'll need to do in the event of a disruptive incident.

The first thing you'll need to do is make a batch of, "misfortune cookies." Please download the forms, Misfortune Cookie Recipe, and, Misfortune Cookie Fortune Template. These contain a recipe to make the cookies, and a template you can use to make your own customized misfortunes.

Note: Although the recipe is quite simple, the folding of the cookies takes a bit of practice (you must form the cookies as soon as they come out of the oven, so be careful not to burn your fingers). If you don't particularly enjoy baking, consider placing the misfortunes in a hat or a bag instead. You may then ask the participants to reach in and choose their "misfortune."

To play the game, follow the suggested guidelines below

1. Once the cookies have been distributed, allow everyone to read their "misfortunes" aloud to the group.
2. Have the group discuss how well prepared your organization is to respond to this situation.
3. Now, lead the group in a discussion about what could be done to improve your organization's preparedness.

This game does not really have any "rules." The point of the misfortune cookie game is to get people talking about CPDR in a fun way, without the pressures of a more formal tabletop exercise.

Form: Misfortune Cookie Recipe

Form: Misfortune Cookie Fortune Template

Recipe courtesy of Rhonda Parkinson