Negotiation, Mediation, and Conflict Resolution – Capstone Project (Coursera)

This course has been designed to help you apply knowledge, skills, and know-how you have developed in negotiation and in mediation, both as a result of your own practice and the follow up of the previous Courses of the ESSEC “Negotiation, Mediation, and Conflict Resolution” specialization.

Before you enroll this course, we strongly recommend that you acquire the necessary pre-requisites. A number of tools, concepts, and methods are outlined in 3 MOOCS: Negotiation Fundamentals, Cross-cultural Negotiations, and Mediation & Conflict Resolution.

To be more specific, the following subjects must be mastered:

– Get prepared for any negotiation;

– Avoid traps;

– Know how to prompt value-creating partnerships;

– Structure an effective negotiation sequence;

– Bargain in an efficient and respectful manner;

– Overcome deadlocks;

– Manager cultural differences in a negotiation;

– Define what a mediation is and choose when to use it;

– List different types of mediation;

– Identify typical challenges and difficulties that most mediators face;

– Choose the adequate strategies within a repertoire of options;

– Identify the do’s and don’ts in mediation.

The purpose of this course is to help you to put everything together, sharpen your skills and enhance your command of negotiation techniques and behaviors.

We’ve designed this MOOC in a highly interactive way. You will be engaged in a negotiation with peers. You will demonstrate your improved capacity to analyze, and therefore conduct, negotiations and mediation.

This capstone project will comprise three exercises. Here is an overview.

In the first exercise, you will analyse a real-life negotiation of your own choice. As an expert of negotiation dynamics, you will provide your reader with a detailed analysis of this real negotiation. Indeed as a professional, your task might not always be to conduct a negotiation – but to analyse what is going on in a given negotiation, or to help others (your boss, for instance) get ready for a high-stake negotiation. Guidelines will be provided in a separate document, to help you structure your assignment.

For the second exercise, you will negotiate directly with a peer. We’ve prepared a business case inspired from a true story.

The third exercise is linked to the previous one. Imagine that this negotiation is not successful, and that the relationship between the two negotiators becomes too tense. You will be asked to step into the shoes of a mediator – and to structure a mediation process.

Each of these three exercises will be peer-evaluated.

As a result, it is really worth your engagement! Go ahead, engage fully into the exercises – you will have fun, and you will make further progress for real-life negotiation, mediation, and conflict management.

Syllabus

WEEK 1

Capstone project overview

This module aims to give you an overview of this MOOC and to present the following elements: the overall planning of the MOOC, the work you have to do, how you will be evaluated. At the end of the week, you will realize your first assessment: explain a negotiation.

Graded: Step 1 : Explain

WEEK 2

Eye of the expert: analysing a negotiation

In this module, you will demonstrate your analytical skills. To do this, you will use the 3 dimensions (People, Problem, Process) and the 10-point model described in the first MOOC. If necessary, we offer a reminder of these concepts.

Graded: Step2: Analysis

Graded: Step 3: Propose

WEEK 3

Let’s practice a negotiation

In this assessment, we’ll introduce you to a negotiation exercise involving two negotiators. You will have to mobilize the knowledge and skills acquired in negotiation. To pass the lesson, you need to complete 1 of 2 choices and then, review your peers. Enjoy !

Graded: The “WINNING THE CONTRACT” Case : You are FabEvents Senior Manager

Graded: Self-assess your negotiation

WEEK 4

What if it had been a mediation?

This last module is an opportunity to practice your negotiation skills. To be more specific, you will need to focus on two points. First, you will practice on how to be prepared before a mediation. Then, you will have to open your first mediation meeting in the presence of two conflicting parties.

Graded: Prepare as a mediator

Negotiation, Mediation and Conflict Resolution Specialization

This specialization is intended for managers – from business, public administration, international organizations or NGOs – who want to go beyond intuition and acquire proven tools to help them achieve greater success in negotiation.

You will learn the negotiation fundamental skills and tools thanks to the first Course.

With the second course you we will enable you to develop better cross-cultural anticipation and flexibility when you face a negotiation – both key skills in an international environment.

With the third course you will be able to choose and lead a mediation process. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of workplace and international conflict resolution.

At the end of this specialization a capstone project will be the opportunity to apply your new knowledge and skills with practical cases.