Harry Potter and the OmniGlobe: Learning Negotiation and Communication Styles in an Immersive Simulation Environment

Negotiation skills are important for MBA graduates as they equip them with the ability to effectively communicate, influence, and close deals on positive notes. One of the most effective methods to motivate and actively engage participants in the negotiation learning process is through the use of business simulation games. This chapter presents an immersive negotiation simulation game embedded in the theme of the popular Harry Potter series. In this game, participants use immersive technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR) to negotiate the selling price of magical products employing communication styles of select Harry Potter characters. By navigating learners through corporate scenarios using Harry Potter characters, the simulation aims to enhance the negotiation skills of the learners by focusing on skillful understanding of the communication styles of the opponents. The outcomes include learning to negotiate effectively; communicating in teams; understanding how, when, and where to use which communication style; managing conflicts; and resolving issues for problem-solving and decision-making. The simulation is in the beta testing stage and has yet to be translated in an immersive format.