Essay on "Rockville at the Outset"

Quoted Instructions for "Rockville at the Outset" Assignment:

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Today in class we played Rockville -- a multi-party negotiation game centered on planning and development. This game has a strong mediator role. How did that change the negotiation experience? What did you think about the consensus building approach? Is this something you could see yourself using in the future? Feel free to put any other comments and reflections here after class.

Let me describe how the negotiation went: Before the negotiation actually took place, I spoke to the Farmers and the Homebuilders, in order to try to form a coalition with me. I was able to convince the Farmers to come to my side, since we had common interests, however, I didn't have enough time to develop much with the Homebuilders. The mediator began by setting a set of rules and requested from us to start with some opening statements. We thereafter began discussing the various issues at handing, and expressing our interest regarding them. We quickly had a certain range we could work with. The meditator allowed us then to convene privately with some of the parties, and I took this opportunity in order to get onto my side the City Planner and the Conservation. We then had a coalition of 4 parties, but we still needed the Homebuilders to join our side. I tried to convince him to join me but was not willing to vote in favour of the Environmental Impact Assessment law. The other members (and the mediator) advised us to choose instead of the EIA law, the tougher land use regulation. But I was not happy with that. So I formed a coalition with the conservation threatening to vote against the "new" package. And finally, succumbing to pressure, the Homebuilders agreed with the EIA law.

Please start the essay with the above story, followed by an answer to the questions.