Isy Osubor on Bruno Verdi: Ethics & Principles over Data & Facts
“MIT students love classes grounded in data and facts.”
This statement has followed me for much of my undergraduate career at MIT. As a person double-minoring in Literature and Management, though, it does not ring true. In fact, it bothers me when students, in all their variety of interests and multitudes, are reduced to this statement.
May 12 xTalk speaker Bruno Verdini sees beyond this statement. In 2016, Verdini took over teaching 11.011, otherwise known as the Art & Science of Negotiation, and since then saw a 1837% increase in pre-registration for students. In his own words, he accomplished this by understanding it is the “ethical and moral component of negotiation” that students were in fact drawn to. Dr. Verdini’s approach not only boosted the number of pre-registered students, it also altered subject evaluation scores from 5.9 to 6.9. Now 11.011 is one of MIT’s most popular electives and is ranked in the top 1% of all MIT electives.
People often think of negotiating as a win-lose situation, where one or both sides throw punches as if they were in a boxing match. Verdini pointed out that in true negotiation both sides work together to reach a sustainable symbiotic relationship. Remaining open to being persuaded by the other side is not only beneficial but is in fact necessary. He says, it is essential to “continuously question who we are and how we behave in the world and give space to others by removing a quick rush to judgement and by taking time to hone in on our principles.”
Self-reflection isn’t the only skill that students learn in this legendary class. One former student mentioned that taking 11.011 gave her the confidence to have discussions about workplace discrimination, something she never would have done before taking this class. According to Verdini, having this process of discovery occur with peers who themselves might have experienced something similar is essential. It creates an environment that will question those structures and thoughtfully advocate for change. So what are the structures that allow this class to be as successful as it is?
Luminosity: A sense of wonder and willingness to question the way the world operates. This is a quality MIT students possess in spades. For Verdini, luminosity also means providing an environment for students where they can move past simply thinking about a subject to actually manifesting behaviours that are in line with the subject.
Embodiment: When you’re in a situation where you’re shaping young minds, you must embody the values and behaviours you’re trying to instill. However, this isn’t easy to do especially given how dynamic different fields and industries are today. Bruno’s advice is as follows: be ready to constantly redefine your understanding. This is why 11.011 follows a flipped classroom model where instead of receiving a lecture, students are given necessary reading to complete at home and then work on applicable problems live in class.
Reciprocity: From the beginning, students understand that how well they prepare and how much time they dedicate to the class will impact the level and degree of understanding of their peers. As a result, students are not only responsible for their understanding but also the understanding of their fellow classmates. This duty influences how students interact not only in the classroom but also as negotiators later in life and is one of the main reasons for this class’ success.
Verdini was able to change student sentiments about 11.011 and created a wonderful culture around negotiation at MIT. His class pushes students to be the leaders they are capable of being and teaches them to approach negotiation and life with curiosity, empathy, and a desire to help everyone win.
By Isioma Osubor, MT '21