Case: Angel Torres and Sequel: Angel Torres Sequel (FREE)
Length: Main case: 2 pages; Sequel: 1 page
Learning Objective: This case is designed to facilitate a live, in-class discussion—either online (synchronous) or in person—about how to recognize opportunities to negotiate and prepare strategically for negotiations in ways that further the interests of all parties. Students will analyze potential negotiations and practice generating proposals that work for all parties involved. The article Self-Advocating in Early Career and the Strategic Preparation Workbook are related resources for students to apply concepts from the negotiating framework to their own career negotiations. This case, written from the perspective of an undergraduate college student beginning a summer internship, is designed to support negotiations to advance early careers.
Synopsis: The Angel case was developed from accounts by students and managers about challenges and opportunities in early career employment opportunities for students in technology and engineering jobs, particularly those from less privileged and historically marginalized backgrounds. The teaching plan is motivated by research on career negotiations and on implications of gender and other status-linked identities for career self-advocacy (e.g., see suggested background readings).
The case protagonist, Angel Torres, is a college sophomore who has been placed in their first summer internship. While Angel hopes the internship might lead to a full-time job after graduation, the work, so far, has been basic and has not provided Angel an opportunity to show their full abilities. Angel has an idea of how to improve the user interface of the company’s primary app but isn’t sure whether or how to propose the idea. Chatter among interns at work have given Angel concerns around pay. Angel also faces a work-family challenge involving a family chore that requires them to negotiate an alternative work schedule. To be gender-inclusive, the protagonist is described without reference to gendered pronouns. The central question for students is, what might Angel try to negotiate to improve their internship experience—and how?
In the sequel case, Angel reaches out to colleagues and friends for information and advice to help inform their negotiation choices, illustrating the importance of reducing ambiguity through negotiation preparation.
Videos: This case includes a video supplement that is available to instructors as part of the teaching plan (embedded above).
Teaching Slides: Prepare Strategically for Career Negotiations
Related Reading: "Self-Advocating in Early Career," Hannah Riley Bowles and Zoe Williams, Harvard Kennedy School Case #2203.0, (4 pages). Price $3.95
Case: Priya Iman (FREE)
Length: 1 page
Learning Objective: This case is designed to facilitate a live class discussion—either online (synchronous) or in person—about how to prepare strategically for career-related negotiations. Students analyze a potential negotiation opportunity and learn how to make a proposal that works for both parties. When combined with the Strategic Preparation Workbook, students can immediately apply the negotiating framework concepts to their own negotiations. The case is designed to support negotiations of professionals in their early or mid-careers. Correspondingly, there are two options for background readings, “Self-Advocating in Early Career," or a Harvard Business Review article, “Negotiating Your Next Job,” which follow the same basic framework with adapted negotiation examples.
Synopsis: Priya, a graduate student of public policy, was offered internships from two units within the International Development Fund. One offered a good salary, took advantage of her past work experience but was longer than she wanted; the other, offered no pay but would give her the work experience she wanted and was the perfect length. The case details the offers and asks students to consider whether Priya has room to negotiate aspects of either offer.
Teaching Slides: Prepare Strategically for Career Negotiations
Related Readings: "Negotiating Your Next Job: Focus on Your Role, Responsibilities, and Career Trajectory, Not Your Salary," Hannah Riley Bowles and Bobbi Thomason, Harvard Business Review, January-February 2021. (14 pages) Links to external site.
"Self-Advocating in Early Career," Hannah Riley Bowles and Zoe Williams, Harvard Kennedy School Case #2203.0, (4 pages). Price $3.95
Case: Maryam Hassan (FREE)
Length: 3 pages
Learning Objective: This case is designed to facilitate a live, in-class discussion—either online (synchronous) or in person—about how to recognize opportunities to negotiate and prepare strategically for negotiations in ways that further the interests of all parties. Students will analyze potential negotiations and practice generating proposals that work for all parties involved. The article Self-Advocating in Early Career and the Strategic Preparation Workbook are related resources for students to apply concepts from the negotiating framework to their own career negotiations. This case is designed to support negotiations to advance early careers.
Synopsis: Maryam and Sameer, brother and sister, were searching for an apartment in Hitech City, Hyderabad. Recent college graduates who were now starting jobs with high-profile technology firms, they wanted to lease an apartment together. The case details their challenge in negotiating with a potential landlord amid cultural and religious concerns. Maryam must address the landlord’s biases and concerns through a careful negotiation involving compromise, building personal relationships, and re-setting expectations.
Teaching Slides: Prepare Strategically for Career Negotiations
Related Readings: "Negotiating Your Next Job: Focus on Your Role, Responsibilities, and Career Trajectory, Not Your Salary," Hannah Riley Bowles and Bobbi Thomason, Harvard Business Review, January-February 2021, (14 pages). Links to external site.
"Self-Advocating in Early Career," Hannah Riley Bowles and Zoe Williams, Harvard Kennedy School Case #2203.0, (4 pages). Price $3.95
Case: Shahana Patel (FREE)
Length: 2 pages
Learning Objective: This case is designed to facilitate a live, in-class discussion—either online (synchronous) or in person—about how to recognize opportunities to negotiate and prepare strategically for negotiations in ways that further the interests of all parties. Students will analyze potential negotiations and practice generating proposals that work for all parties involved. The article Self-Advocating in Early Career and the Strategic Preparation Workbook are related resources for students to apply concepts from the negotiating framework to their own career negotiations. This case is designed to support negotiations to advance early careers.
Synopsis: Shahana had just received a job offer from a trendy global startup in India, but she was getting married in five months and wanted to negotiate for a short leave for the wedding and a transfer to the company’s Hong Kong office to be with her new husband. In balancing her career and personal goals, Shahana has to negotiate with both her fiancé and her potential new employer through a careful negotiation involving compromise and re-setting expectations.
Teaching Slides: Prepare Strategically for Career Negotiations
Related Readings: "Negotiating Your Next Job: Focus on Your Role, Responsibilities, and Career Trajectory, Not Your Salary," Hannah Riley Bowles and Bobbi Thomason, Harvard Business Review, January-February 2021, (14 pages). Links to external site.
"Self-Advocating in Early Career," Hannah Riley Bowles and Zoe Williams, Harvard Kennedy School Case #2203.0, (4 pages). Price $3.95
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