PON – Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School - https://www.pon.harvard.edu
Employment Negotiation Role-Play:
Hiring a Newtonian Where cultural differences present unique HR negotiation challenges
$0.00 – $6.00
Robert Smith and Ericka Gray
Two-party, multi-issue negotiation between a human resources director and a prospective employee over terms of hire that highlight cultural differences
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SCENARIO:
This is a negotiation between a recently hired computer programmer and a Human Resources Director regarding the new employee's salary, benefits, and start date. The computer programmer, a recent immigrant from "Newtonia," has certain requirements that cannot be disclosed for fear of invoking bad luck. The Newtonian also has cultural expectations of how the Human Resources Director should behave in order to transact business comfortably. The Human Resources Director simply has the task of hiring this candidate who has been interviewed and recommended for hire. There is a given salary range, an established list of benefits, and regular start dates from which the Human Resources Director can operate.
MAJOR LESSONS:
This exercise highlights the cultural elements of negotiation and helps sensitize participants to potential cultural differences.
This exercise also highlights the potential discrepancy between intent (by one party) and impact (on another party).
Prof. Susskind’s Top 5 Environmental Negotiation Teaching Materials
From time to time, the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center asks PON-affiliated faculty to nominate their top five books, top five teaching videos or top five role-play simulations in certain fields or teaching settings. These change periodically.