Paper Clip Negotiation at a Distance

This exercise allows you to see how many everyday opportunities there are to barter and negotiate – and to reflect on your negotiations.  You will negotiate a series of 5 trades beginning with a paper clip and ending with something more valuable, e.g. you might trade your paperclip for a pen, then the pen for a pack of gum, then the gum for a used thumb drive, then the thumb drive for a DVD, then the DVD for a used computer bag.

But there’s a catch: none of your negotiations can be done face-to-face or with other students in the class. Business is done more and more at a distance and so are negotiations. You can use any form of electronic, telecommunications or social media outlets that you would like to. You also must negotiate at least one trade with someone with whom you have conflict or who you really don’t like very well.

Keep a log of what happened in the trade. Then summarize in a short paper what worked best for you, etc.

Negotiation Requirements:

You must negotiate a series of 5 trades beginning with a paper clip.
None of your trades can be made with other students in the class.
None of your negotiations can be completed face-to-face. You can meet with the person to trade items after you’ve completed the negotiation at a distance.
You must negotiate at least one trade with someone with whom you have conflict or who you really don’t like very well.

Summary Requirements

Is a word document or pdf that is no more than 1 page in length.
Includes the statement, “I completed 5 trades.”
Include the statement, “I negotiated with someone with whom I have conflict or who I really don’t like very well.”
Include the statement, “None of my negotiations were face-to-face.”
Includes 5 numbered paragraphs, one for each trade.
Each paragraph includes the item you traded for and a lesson you learned from the trade