Negotiation Simulations
Click on the image to access the materials for the corresponding negotiation simulation.
Simulation Procedural Overview
The negotiation simulations above provide basic information about the parties and factual background of the conflict under discussion. This brief supplement is meant to provide additional information about the process of the simulation.
The agenda provided in the simulation likely references at least two of three types of discussions: (1) Individual Delegation Meetings; (2) Working Group Meetings; and (3) Plenaries.
Individual Delegation Meetings are meetings internal to your party in the negotiations. You may use these sessions to agree on your party’s negotiation positions and strategies, appoint one or multiple Spokespeople for the party (e.g., one speaker to handle each major issue on the table), agree on an order in which to address issues, and determine any red lines (i.e., points that absolutely cannot be conceded in coming to an agreement with the other party). You may also wish to assign to party members the roles of one or more Notetaker (who can keep accurate notes of all discussions) and one or more Timekeepers (who can alert the Spokespeople if time is running short). If Working Group Meetings are being held, and roles are not pre-assigned, you may also use this time to assign party members to the Working Groups, as well as Notetakers and/or Timekeepers.
Working Group Meetings allow the parties to focus exclusively on one issue within a negotiation session. These sessions are often held simultaneously to one another, and their results are discussed in additional Individual Delegation Meetings before any Plenary occurs. At the start of any Working Group Meeting, you may wish to establish ground rules concerning speaking order for parties, any time limits for each party in speaking, and internal conversations between parties during the Working Group Meeting.
A Plenary is a full meeting of all parties to the negotiation, during which discussions from the Working Group Meetings may be discussed, or new issues may be addressed for the first time. Rules similar to those at the start of the Working Group Meetings may be established at the start of a Plenary.
Rely only on the materials provided and any additional recommended reading in forming the factual bases of your arguments. These simulations are based on real-world events, but the purpose of the simulation is to test your understanding of the negotiation process, rather than your overall knowledge of the conflict. Even if extrinsic knowledge would help you clarify red lines for certain positions, or change how you would approach an opposing party in an actual negotiation, please approach this simulation as if you were unaware of this extrinsic knowledge. This will ensure an even playing field for participants who may not have the same depth of knowledge on the issue at hand.