We will engage in a negotiation exercise for this week’s conflict exercise assignment.
Typically, we would conduct a role play at this point. However, past experiences with
online classes have highlighted challenges stemming from diverse schedules or, in
some cases, complete student absences. To address this, you will receive scripts for
both sides of the negotiation exercise, titled “The Truck Case,” followed by a set of
discussion questions.
The central parties involved in this conflict within a farm organization are Ann (Andy)
Boyd and Jo Benson. You can find their respective scripts below for your reference:
Ann (Andy) Boyd
Your name is Ann (Andy) Boyd. You are the head of the Organic Fruit Producers. Your
group formed a coalition with the Organic Vegetable Producers 5 years ago to combine
resources and technical knowledge through a new organization, the Organic Products
Marketing Board. The new organization has done a top-notch job of marketing organic
products. Your group spent time and financial resources to secure support from a
foundation to recently acquire a new truck for the Organic Products Marketing Board.
You and your group received little help from the vegetable producers in getting the
funding for the truck.
Your group has given and given and now they feel that it is time to collect. Your group
feels they deserve sole use of the only available truck during the harvest season. Your
harvested fruits need to get the processing plant within a reasonable amount of time or
your produce will spoil and your members will lose a lot of needed revenue. You know
the truck officially belongs to the Organic Products Marketing Board. You also know that
your members need the truck on Tuesday, Thursdays, and Saturdays, because you
harvest your fruits every other day. You need the problem resolved soon.
Members of the Organic Fruit Producers are feeling that you are collaborating too much
with the Organic Products Marketing Board; some have even questioned whether your
contract should be renewed. Your group is also furious that the vegetable producers
made little effort to help you get funding for the truck. You know that the future of your
Board relies on you and the fruit producers working together. But your group is the only
one that secured the money for the truck and if not for your efforts, there would be no
truck.
Today you will meet with Jo Benson, the head of the Organic Vegetable Producers to
work on this dispute. Your group’s position is clear. The Organic Fruit Growers need
(and deserve) sole use of the truck during the harvest season.
Jo Benson
Your name is Jo Benson. You are the head of the Organic Vegetable Producers. Your
group formed a coalition with the Organic Fruit Producers 5 years ago to combine funds
and technical knowledge to form the Organic Products Marketing Board. Your group has
given valuable monetary resources and time to make the Organic Marketing Board the
best organization of its kind in the state. Your group has received little recognition or
thanks from the Organic Fruit Producers for your many contributions.
Recently a foundation furnished a new truck to the Organic Products Marketing Board.
You know your group needs the truck to get your produce from the field to the
processing plant. If you do not get your vegetables from the field to the plant within a
few hours, they will spoil and your constituent farmers will lose revenue. Your member
farmers are irate and are pressuring you to get sole use of the newly acquired truck.
They tell you that if you do not get the use of the truck for them, they will elect someone
else to head their organization and take up their cause.
You know that the truck was awarded to all members of the Organic Products Marketing
Board and you represent only the Organic Vegetable Producers. However, your group
needs the truck just about every day of the week—precisely, every Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday. That’s why the Organic Vegetable producers want sole use of
the truck. Your group claims they have given a great deal to make the Marketing Board
a success and now it’s time to collect. You know that the future of the Board depends on
both your groups working together. But the lack of respect for your contributions from
the Organic Fruit Group has pushed you to the limit.
Today you will meet Ann (Andy) Boyd, the president of the Organic Fruit Growers, to
work on this dispute. Your group’s position is clear. You need (and deserve) sole use of
the new truck.
Please familiarize yourself with the provided scripts and answer the questions.
What are the positions in this case?
What are the fundamental interests of the parties in the dispute?
Are there overlapping interests?
How would you reframe the issue to reflect real interests?
What are some potential solutions that meet everyone’s needs?
What solution seems most feasible?
There are also some long-term interests that might be addressed in this dispute. What
are
they?
