how to create a negation role play exercise

1. Designing a Negotiation Role Play Scenario
Music Industry & Enterprise
www.musicstudentinfo.com
Chris Baker

2. Creating a Negotiation Scenario NOTES
• Finding scenarios for negotiation role-play is not easy.
• When available, these materials are unlikely to be free of charge.
Besides, it might be difficult to adapt pre-packaged scenarios to
participants’ situations.
• It can be a good idea for a facilitator to help participants design
their own scenarios and then use them during a workshop.
• Both the creation and use of scenarios can provide useful learning
insights for participants.
• This activity provides a model for this purpose.

3. Aim To have participants design a scenario for negotiation roleplay
Time At least 30-50 minutes.
Participants Any number although it works better with at least three
participants.
Materials
Flip charts.
Markers.
A flip chart prepared in advance by the facilitator with the essential
characteristics of a role-play scenario.
Papers and pencils for participants.

4. Creating a Role Play Scenario: Procedure
I) Introduce the activity by saying that you are going to ask participants to design scenarios for
negotiation role-play. You can use the information in the above note if necessary. Make sure
everybody knows what a scenario for role-playing is.
II) Facilitate a brainstorming session by asking participants for situations/examples of
negotiation from their own lives – or the lives of someone they know. Ask contributors to briefly
describe them, and note down each situation on the flip chart. Make a bulleted list.
III) Together with the participants, choose the most relevant situations/examples.
IV) Divide the group into as many sub-groups as the number of situations/examples chosen. Try
to have groups of equal size, with a minimum of three and a maximum of seven participants.
V) Each group’s task is to create a role-play scenario for negotiation. Put the essential
characteristics of a role-play scenario up on a flip chart and briefly introduce them.

5. Essential characteristics of a role-play
scenario:
Description of the roles/parties:
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Who are they?
What do they want?
Why do they want it?
What alternatives do they have for obtaining it?
What power do they have in this negotiation?
What is each party’s relationship with the other party/parties?
What influence does each party have over the other/s?
What external pressures are there – if any – on the parties?

6. Creating a Role Play Scenario
VI) Start group work allow sufficient time and give help if necessary.
VII) After group work collect the role-play scenarios.

7. Creating a Role Play Scenario Alternatives
Note:
Alternatives to this process include:
After step VI you can ask participants to name the best scenario (or the
best 3-5). For example, after all the groups have presented their
scenarios, have the plenary vote on which is/are the best.
You can establish a maximum length for scenarios.
For example, a maximum of 300 or 200 words.
You can also ask groups to reduce their scenarios to the bare
essentials, with a maximum of 99 words for each role-play.