What are Simulations?
CulturesCrossing simulations create fictional, but evidence-based scenarios. Participants play the roles of American and international businesspersons and negotiators, based upon biographical and behavioral information in each role-play packet. The role-players must act within corporate and character guidelines and cultural constraints while working toward specific business objectives.
The business scenarios and the individual character roles are based on a synthesis of different, but real business, cultural, and political situations that have occurred in the recent past.
The objective of each role-play simulation varies, but the basic goals remain the same. Participants should learn the value of:
- Listening actively and openly
- Adapting communication, interpersonal, and business skills to the context of another culture
- Framing disagreements in a way that does not end dialogue
- Weighing evidence, which at times appears contradictory
- Redefining what constitutes winning.
Above all, the simulations create no predetermined heroes, no predetermined fools and no predetermined outcomes.
About the Author
Maureen Maguire Lewis served as full-time faculty at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business from 1992 to 2017. She has been researching and writing cross-cultural negotiation simulations since 1997. More than 150 colleges and universities throughout the United States, Finland, Sweden, France, Germany, Poland, Mexico, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Canada, and Vietnam have used her work.
Lewis has received multiple research grants from universities and educational organizations:
- Temple University — Center for International Business Education and Research
- Duke University — The Asian/Pacific Studies Institute (Freeman Foundation Grant funds)
- San Diego State University — Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER)
- The Ohio State University — Fisher College CIBER
- The University of South Florida — U.S. Dept. of Education (Title VI grant funds)
- Indiana University — CIBER
- The American Association of Teachers of French
Maureen has presented at multiple conferences since 1998, and is available to facilitate or advise on the simulation process. Please contact us to inquire or to make arrangements: 919.475.6442 or info@culturescrossing.com