Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Activity Ostrich Eggs Full
Activity Ostrich Eggs Full
Activity Ostrich Eggs Full
General Instructions
Time Needed: 60 minutes
Purpose
To illustrate how bargaining can occur at any time, any place. It challenges the
negotiators to determine how to find out information and what to share; and to
see if an interest-based approach can work or if a more competitive model will
prevail.
Designed so some will not reach an agreement, or an agreement that maximizes
the interests of both parties (often called an integrative agreement)
Identify facilitators and inhibitors of integrative solutions (e.g. trust, time, limited
knowledge)
Set-up (5 min.)
ROLE OF A. KAHN
You are the Chief Scientist for the ABC Drug company, an international firm that
specializes in drugs to cure rare diseases. Recently there has been a worldwide
outbreak of X-Flouxide. This disease is a communicable illness that carries a high risk of
causing fetal abnormalities, both physical and mental.
A worldwide emergency exists. Unless X-Flouxide is brought under control quickly, the
chances are great that an unacceptably high percentage of an entire generation will be
dependent upon their families and society for decades. Economist are predicting that
costs would wipe out millions of families and trigger widespread business collapse and
unemployment in thousands of consumer industries. Psychologists anticipate that the
emotional impact will touch almost every family, with terrible consequences.
Your company has been conducting research on X-Flouxide and has identified a serum,
Agent UO, that will prevent the disease. The serum is produced from the yolk of the
eggs of the rare spotted ostrich. This bird is found in small numbers in Africa. They lay
their eggs once each year and their laying period is this month. The eggs for each year
are carefully stored and then sold to gourmet restaurants as thickeners for special
soups. Last years egg supply has all been sold at an average price of $15 per egg.
The only owner of domesticated spotted ostriches, and consequently the major supplier,
lives in a remote part of Africa. There are rumors that he is a member of the international
underworld and involved in narcotics and organized crime. You do not think that he
knows about this new use for his produce.
ROLE OF M. HOSSAIN
You are the Chief Chemist for the XYZ Chemical Company, a international firm
specializing in making pesticides to eliminate insects that are dangerous to agricultural
crops. Recently, your representatives from around the world have reported a new
outbreak of the Cottermus Moth. This moth can be extremely destructive to all kinds of
trees and if left unchecked, can defoliate and kill whole forests within a matter of days.
Once thought to be under control and nearing extinction, the Cottermus Moth has
suddenly reappeared in large numbers on all forested continents. In two months, the
larvae will hatch and massive forest destruction will result.
If the forests are defoliated, secondary impacts will be unprecedented soil erosion and
the destabilization and loss of water resources. The moth could also move into
agricultural lands and cause serious destruction to crops. Corn appears to be especially
vulnerable to attacks by the moths. The only way to stop the moth is to spray infected
forests with a special pesticide, Compound UO, which has not been manufactured for
several years. Unlike most other pesticides which are synthetic compounds, the
Compound UO is made from the eggshell of the rare spotted ostrich which is found in
Africa. These birds are very few in number and lay their eggs only once each year. Their
laying period is this month. The eggs for each year are usually stored and then sold to
gourmet restaurants as thickeners for special soups. Last years eggs have all been sold
at an average price of $15 per egg.
The only owner of these rare ostriches lives in a remote part of Africa. There are rumors
that he is a member of the international underworld and involved in narcotics and