We have found that this is the o ptimum way for students to utilize the limited personnel and time at their disposal during both the preparation and simulation phases . During the preparation phase, students also become familiar with the particular computer they will be using, as well as the simulation software. The Simulation During this phase, which lasts five weeks, student decisionmakers are expected to read their messages and send responses daily, as well as attend international conferences. Generally, conferences are predetermined by the simulation coordinator before the exercise begins so students can prepare for them accordingly. As we have noted, several distinct types of communications take place in the exercise.
Messages are the primary form of communications among nations.
These are secret communications, either bilateral or multilateral, and it is in this coritext that most of the business of the exercise is conducted. In addition, communiques are routinely issued by countryteams as the need arises, but at least twice per week. These are meant to be official pubEc statements of policy on specific issues, and are sent lo all other country-tearns. Real-time conferences are the final means of communication. While most issues are handled through the normal message flow, occasionally conferences are necessary to hammer out details of a particular negotiation, or at least to give some issues a public a iring.