Business English- Negotiating Language Board Game

shorter-term contract

time off for the birth of a child

work abroad

working from home/ telecommuting

START

attending an event (e.g.  trade fair)

renegotiate something

Instructions for students

Roleplay the situation written in the square which you are on. Ones in italics are negotiations within a company and so can be more informal. Decide exactly you are negotiating with before you start speaking, and ask your partner to play that part. Start from the very beginning of the negotiation and continue to the very end of the exchange each time. As well as face to face, you can communicate by online meeting, by email, on the telephone, by teleconference, by video conference, or even by phone message.

You will move by the number of points that your partner gives you, one for each of these criteria which they think that you met during the negotiation:

1.     smoothly starting (small talk, getting down to business, etc)

2.     sticking to your position/ insisting/ (polite) negative responses

3.     softening your position/ changing your mind

4.     suggesting compromises/ suggesting solutions

5.     trading/ linking offers and conditions

6.     moving the meeting on/ not getting stuck on points

7.     giving reasons

8.     asking about their position/ getting them to speak

9.     smoothly ending

10.  the right level of formality/ friendliness

Only the person whose turn it is gets points (not their partner).

car parking space

reducing the amount of the order

change teams/ sections/ departments

changing the specifications that you want

changing amount of the order

price rise

promotion

changing delivery terms

getting rid of a middleman

performance-related pay

changing the delivery terms

pay rise

personal targets

paid-for training

changing working hours

negotiate with another team

changing your responsibilities

negotiate with a different division

cheaper supplies

negotiate with a different department

fewer business trips

negotiate with an existing customer/ client

getting more/ better technology

negotiate with a supplier

take time off for a vacation

negotiate with a subcontractor

larger office

negotiate with a prospective customer/ client

longer to complete a project

negotiate with a co-worker

move branches

more people in your team

more budget for your project

longer-term contract