Most exercises become difficult to manage because the facilitator is trying to guide discussion and control the scenario at the same time.
Most exercises feel active. Very few are structured, trackable, and outcome-driven. This is what a properly run session should look like.
When tabletop exercises remain abstract, teams discuss incidents. When they feel real, teams learn how to respond together.
Most exercises end when the session finishes. The real value starts when data is captured, reviewed, and used to improve the next one.
Most exercises fail due to lack of structure. The most effective sessions guide decision-making clearly from start to finish.