2. Activity in which the business continuity plan(s) is rehearsed in part or in whole to ensure that the plan(s) contains the appropriate information and produces the desired result when put into effect.

(Source: British Standard BS25999-1:2006 Code of Practice for Business Continuity Management)

3. An announced or unannounced execution of business continuity plans intended to implement existing plans and/or highlight the need for additional plan development. A way of testing part of a Business Continuity Plan. An exercise may involve invoking Business Continuity procedures but is more likely to involve the simulation of a Business Continuity E/I/C in which participants role-play in order to assess what issues may arise, prior to a real invocation.

(Source: Business Continuity Institute - BCI)

4. An activity that is performed to train and condition team members, and to improve their performance in executing the BC Plan. It also serves to highlight the operation and effectiveness of the BC Plan so as to improve the BC Plan.

(Source: Singapore Standard 540 - SS 540:2008)

5. An activity performed for the purpose of training and conditioning team members and personnel in appropriate crisis responses with the goal of achieving maximum performance.

(Source: ASIS International - ASIS International)

6. A people-focused activity designed to execute Business Continuity Plans and evaluate the individual and/or organisation performance against approved standards or objectives. Exercises can be announced or unannounced, and are performed for the purpose of training and conditioning team members, and validating the Business Continuity Plan. Exercise results identify plan gaps and limitations and are used to improve and revise the Business Continuity Plans.