A Hog Farm for S-Burg? An Interactive Town hall Negotiation Simulation and Teaching Plan

This negotiating exercise simulates a municipal governance meeting where the sole item on the agenda is the question of the construction of two large “hog barns” on a piece of farm property not far from the municipal center. Negotiation roles include three township supervisors (think city councilmen), the property owner (the lessor), the hog-farming businessman (the lessee), and more than a dozen other roles ranging from concerned citizen to environmental activist to rival developer. The exercise is designed as an end-of-course activity in a negotiation course--an opportunity to see and practice the portfolio of skills developed throughout the semester. This document includes a teaching plan, 15 unique roles, and two additional generic roles for additional students.