Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

What is your Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement?

Your best alternative to a negotiated agreement, or BATNA, describes a your best possible outcome if the current negotiations fail.

In negotiation, your best source of power is typically your best alternative to a negotiated agreement, or BATNA. Having a strong outside alternative enables you to walk away from a deal that doesn’t meet your needs or that would compromise your vision or ethics.

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According to basic negotiation theory, your BATNA should be the benchmark by which you can compare the offer at the bargaining table with the best you could get if you walked away. If negotiation would give you more, then that’s all upside. If not, there’s no reason to agree.

It’s a twist on the old “bird in the hand” adage. If you’ve already got a golden goose, your negotiating partner has to offer even better terms to get you to say yes. But if all you’re holding is a dead duck, you may have to take whatever your counterpart offers you.

Wise negotiators understand the value of thinking through their best alternative to a negotiated agreement prior to any significant negotiation. Analyzing what you will do if the current negotiation or conflict-resolution effort fails will help you determine how much you need the other party and may also motivate you to enhance your alternatives away from the table.

Yet negotiators often neglect an equally important step: analyzing the other party’s best alternative to a negotiated agreement. Although finding out what alternatives the other party has can take some detective work, it can be well worth the effort. If you find out that your counterpart has few options, that knowledge can empower you to stand by your demands.

Discover how to unleash your power at the bargaining table in this free special report, BATNA Basics: Boost Your Power at the Bargaining Table, from Harvard Law School.

The following items are tagged best alternative to a negotiated agreement:

Dear Negotiation Coach: Managing Perceptions

Posted October 4th, 2022 by & filed under BATNA.

Sometimes a negotiation is all about managing perceptions. As this question below shows, focusing a counterpart on his own BATNA can persuade him to reduce the intensity of his hard-bargaining tactics. Q: A customer is pressuring me to make a deal fast. I don’t want to be forced into a one-sided agreement and prefer to reach … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Managing Multiparty Negotiations

Posted February 7th, 2020 by PON Staff & filed under Free Report.

If you’re in a negotiation with many parties who have varying positions, it may be tempting to join a coalition with parties who share at least some of your goals. But should you join one? … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

How to Control Your Emotions in Conflict Resolution

Posted October 4th, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Conflict Resolution.

To guard against acting irrationally or in ways that can harm you, authors of Beyond Reason: Using Emotions As You Negotiate Roger Fisher and Daniel Shapiro advise you to take your emotional temperature during a negotiation. Specifically, try to gauge whether your emotions are manageable, starting to heat up, or threatening to boil over. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

BATNA Basics: Boost Your Power at the Bargaining Table

Posted April 19th, 2015 by PON Staff & filed under Free Report.

Perfect your negotiation skills in this free special report, BATNA Basics: Boost Your Power at the Bargaining Table from Harvard Law School. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Managing Difficult Negotiators

Posted October 3rd, 2022 by Katie Shonk & filed under BATNA.

In negotiation, we are often confronted with the task of dealing with difficult people—those who seem to prefer to set up roadblocks rather than break down walls, or who choose to take hardline stances rather than seeking common ground. If you’re skilled in BATNA negotiations, you’ll have an easier time dealing with such people. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Business Negotiation Strategies: How to Negotiate Better Business Deals

Posted April 19th, 2015 by PON Staff & filed under Free Report.

Written by some of the nation’s foremost experts in negotiation, Business Negotiation Strategies: How to Negotiate a Better Business Deal gives you the tools you need to navigate even the stickiest business deals. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Principled Negotiation: Focus on Interests to Create Value

Posted September 26th, 2022 by Katie Shonk & filed under Negotiation Skills.

There’s a better, third way of negotiating—one that doesn’t rely on toughness or accommodation, but that will improve your likelihood of meeting your negotiation goals. In their pivotal negotiation text, Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In (Penguin, 2nd edition, 1991), Roger Fisher, William Ury, and Bruce Patton of the Harvard Negotiation Project promote … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Dealmaking: Secrets of Successful Dealmaking in Business Negotiations

Posted April 19th, 2015 by PON Staff & filed under Free Report.

Discover how to boost your power at the bargaining table in this free special report, Dealmaking: Secrets of Successful Dealmaking in Business Negotiations, from Harvard Law School. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Are You Ready to Negotiate?

Posted September 26th, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Negotiation Skills.

“Winging it” is a fine approach to life’s minor decisions, but when you negotiate, it can be disastrous. Follow these three preparation steps and improve your agreements. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

How to Portray Confidence in Negotiation So You Don’t Look Desperate

Posted September 22nd, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Negotiation Skills.

In our negotiations, we all regularly cope with counterparts who try too hard—such as salespeople who pester us with phone calls or show up at our office or home unannounced. Their desperation to reach a deal comes through loud and clear, making them seem not only annoying but also potentially ripe for exploitation. At the … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Six Strategies for Creating Value at the Negotiation Table

Posted September 22nd, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Dealmaking.

In today’s market, consumers are often the more powerful parties in negotiations with sellers. To claim the most value in your next haggling experience, use the following six negotiation strategies. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

When Lose-Lose is the Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement (BATNA)

Posted September 20th, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Mediation.

As the famous tale “The Gift of the Magi” illustrates, sometimes the best outcomes in negotiated agreements is a lose-lose situation for both parties. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Dealmaking: Relationship Rules for Dealmakers

Posted September 19th, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Dealmaking.

Here are some concrete guidelines for fostering a strong relationship between deal making partners, drawn from The Global Negotiator: Making, Managing, and Mending Deals Around the World in the 21st Century, by Tufts University professor Jeswald W. Salacuse: … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

5 Common Negotiation Mistakes and How You Can Avoid Them

Posted September 15th, 2022 by Katie Shonk & filed under Negotiation Skills.

Sometimes our negotiation mistakes are glaring: We accidentally reveal our bottom line, criticize the other party when patience was warranted, or get our numbers mixed up. More often, though, our negotiation mistakes are invisible: We get a perfectly good deal, but are unaware that we could have gotten a better one if we hadn’t succumbed … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

6 Bargaining Tips and BATNA Essentials

Posted September 13th, 2022 by Katie Shonk & filed under BATNA.

The best bargaining tips taught by the experts should offer ways to enhance your bargaining power in negotiation. To do this, you must cultivate a strong BATNA, or best alternative to a negotiated agreement. The more appealing your best alternative is, the more comfortable you will feel asking for more in your current negotiation—secure in … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Why Negotiations Fail

Posted September 13th, 2022 by Katie Shonk & filed under Uncategorized.

When we think of failed business negotiations, most of us picture negotiators walking away from the table in disappointment. But that’s only one type of disappointing negotiation. Failed business negotiations also include those that parties come to regret over time and those that fall apart during implementation. The following three types of negotiation failures are … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Negotiation in Business Without a BATNA – Is It Possible?

Posted September 12th, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under BATNA.

In a negotiation scenario, you always have a best alternative to a negotiated agreement. Negotiation research and negotiation strategy helps negotiators find their BATNA, leverage it at the bargaining table, and illustrates the impact that knowing your BATNA has on a negotiation. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

How to Mitigate Stress at the Bargaining Table

Posted September 12th, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Business Negotiations.

Conventional wisdom, not to mention the popularity of no-haggle car buying, suggests that many people anticipate important negotiations with the same dread they reserve for root canals. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Power in Negotiation: The Impact on Negotiators and the Negotiation Process

Posted September 5th, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Uncategorized.

According to Dacher Keltner of the University of California at Berkeley and his colleagues, power in negotiation affects two primary neurological regulators of behavior: the behavioral approach system and the behavioral inhibition system. Powerful negotiators demonstrate “approach related” behaviors such as expressing positive moods and searching for rewards in their environment. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Dealing with Difficult People? Negotiation Lessons from Ronald Reagan

Posted September 5th, 2022 by Katie Shonk & filed under Conflict Resolution.

In recent months, U.S. President Barack Obama and other world leaders have struggled to find a winning strategy to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin to back away from his aggressions toward Ukraine. In a Wall Street Journal editorial, Ken Adelman, U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s ambassador to the United Nations and arms-control director, writes that recently … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Teaching the Fundamentals: The Best Introductory Negotiation Role Play Simulations

Posted September 2nd, 2022 by Lara SanPietro & filed under Uncategorized.

Introductory negotiation courses are taught in law and business schools around the world, but are also increasingly taught to undergraduates and in all types of corporate settings. No matter the context, though, the basic elements of negotiation are roughly similar. Teaching interest-based negotiation, the Zone of Possible Agreement (ZOPA), the Best Alternative to a Negotiated … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Use a Negotiation Preparation Worksheet for Continuous Improvement

Posted September 1st, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Uncategorized.

When determining the best alternative to a negotiated agreement or BATNA (the point at which the negotiators ought to walk away from the table), executives should check in with key organizational leaders. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

For Dispute Resolution, Consider a Lawyer Trained as a Mediator

Posted August 25th, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Dispute Resolution.

If you needed a lawyer to help you settle a business dispute, would you prefer (a) one who was completely partisan toward your point of view or (b) one who acted as a mediator and saw both sides of the conflict? You might assume that the partisan lawyer would work harder for you than someone who … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

3 Types of Power in Negotiation

Posted August 23rd, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Uncategorized.

Social psychologists have described different types of power that exist in society, and negotiators can leverage these types of power in negotiation as well. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

What Is Distributive Negotiation?

Posted August 23rd, 2022 by Katie Shonk & filed under Uncategorized.

What is distributive negotiation? Distributive negotiation involves haggling over a fixed amount of value—that is, slicing up the pie. In a distributive negotiation, there is likely only one issue at stake, typically price. When you are negotiating with a merchant in a foreign bazaar, or over a used car closer to home, you are generally … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Dealing with Difficult People – Even When You Don’t Want To

Posted August 22nd, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Dealing with Difficult People.

In your negotiations, have you ever faced a truly difficult negotiator—someone whose behavior seems designed to provoke, thwart, and annoy you beyond all measure? We often have strong incentives to negotiate with those we find obstinate, unpredictable, abrasive, or untrustworthy. When we avoid dealing with difficult people, we risk missing out on important opportunities. But … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Use Integrative Negotiation Strategies to Create Value at the Bargaining Table

Posted August 22nd, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Uncategorized.

How can you uncover additional value, make useful trades, and put together a package that exceeds your party’s expectations? Here are four integrative negotiation strategies for value creation that all negotiators should add to their toolkit. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Power in Negotiation: How Effective Negotiators Project Power at the Negotiation Table

Posted August 22nd, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Uncategorized.

Negotiating power generally comes from one of three sources, according to Northwestern University professor Adam D. Galinsky and New York University professor Joe C. Magee. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

How to Deal with Threats: 4 Negotiation Tips for Managing Conflict at the Bargaining Table

Posted August 15th, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Conflict Resolution.

Sooner or later, every negotiator faces threats at the bargaining table. How should you respond when the other side threatens to walk away, file a lawsuit, or damage your reputation? These negotiation tips will help. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

The Negotiation Process in China

Posted August 15th, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Uncategorized.

With its booming economy and growing international consumer influence, the role of negotiation in international business is more important than ever and negotiation skills appropriate for China are in high-demand. Here are a few negotiation tips to help you successfully navigate your next round of business negotiations in China. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

The Importance of Relationship Building in China

Posted August 4th, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Uncategorized.

Although most Americans treat those they know differently than they treat strangers, Chinese relationship building towards insiders and outsiders tends to be more extreme than in the United States – and therefore more important in negotiations in China than many Americans understand. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

What is BATNA? How to Find Your Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement

Posted August 4th, 2022 by Guhan Subramanian & filed under BATNA.

Your BATNA, or the ability to identify a negotiator’s best alternative to a negotiated agreement, is among one of the many pieces of information negotiators seek when formulating dealmaking and negotiation strategies. If your current negotiation reaches an impasse, what’s your best outside option? … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

The Pitfalls of Negotiations Over Email

Posted August 1st, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Conflict Resolution.

Negotiation research suggests that email often poses more problems than solutions when it comes to relationships, information exchange, and outcomes in conflict resolution negotiation scenarios. First, establishing social rapport via email can be challenging. The lack of nonverbal cues and the dearth of social norms regarding its use can cause negotiators to be impolite and … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Elements of Conflict: Diagnose What’s Gone Wrong

Posted July 28th, 2022 by Katie Shonk & filed under Conflict Resolution.

In the heat of conflict, it can be difficult to think rationally about how you got where you are and how you might make things better. But by taking a break to consider the elements of conflict, you can move toward a more rational assessment of the dispute and come up with ways to address … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

VIDEO: William Ury on “Getting to Yes with Yourself”

Posted July 28th, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Uncategorized.

At the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School, William Ury, a founding member of the Program on Negotiation and co-author of the seminal book Getting to Yes, spoke about his latest book, Getting to Yes with Yourself (and Other Worthy Opponents). Over 250 community members, students, and faculty members filled Austin Hall to hear Ury … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

BATNA and Other Sources of Power at the Negotiation Table

Posted July 26th, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under BATNA.

BATNA negotiations involve a negotiators knowledge of her best alternatives to a negotiated agreement and are one of three sources of negotiating power at the bargaining table, according to negotiation researcher Adam D. Galinsky and New York University’s Joe C. Magee. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Business Negotiation Skills: How to Enhance Your Negotiated Agreement

Posted July 26th, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Dealmaking.

A common topic in our business negotiations articles are negotiation topics in business about enhancing your deal after signing the negotiated agreement. After all, not all contracts are created equal. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Negotiation Examples: How Crisis Negotiators Use Text Messaging

Posted July 25th, 2022 by Katie Shonk & filed under BATNA.

In their negotiation training, police and professional hostage negotiators are taught skills that will help them defuse tense situations over the course of long phone calls, such as engaging in active listening, determining the person’s emotions from his or her inflection, and trust building. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Negotiation Preparation Strategies

Posted July 21st, 2022 by Katie Shonk & filed under Business Negotiations.

When an important negotiation is looming, “winging it” is never the answer. The best negotiators engage in thorough negotiation preparation. That means taking plenty of time to analyze what you want, your bargaining position, and the other side’s likely wants and alternatives. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Sales Negotiation Techniques

Posted July 21st, 2022 by Katie Shonk & filed under Business Negotiations.

In sales negotiations, making the first offer is often a smart move. The first offer can anchor the discussion that follows and can have a powerful effect on the final outcome. But if the other party makes the first offer, you’ll need to be prepared to frame your counteroffer carefully. What is framing in negotiation? It … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Negotiation Tactics, BATNA and Examples for Creating Value in Business Negotiations

Posted July 18th, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Business Negotiations.

Learning great BATNA examples, or estimations of your best alternative to a negotiated agreement as well as that of your negotiating counterpart, are essential to effective negotiation strategies. When preparing to negotiate, always take time to consider these important questions. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Take your BATNA to the Next Level

Posted July 18th, 2022 by Katie Shonk & filed under BATNA.

If your current negotiation reaches an impasse, what’s your best outside option? Most seasoned negotiators understand the value of evaluating their BATNA, or best alternative to a negotiated agreement, a concept that Roger Fisher, William Ury, and Bruce Patton introduced in their seminal book, Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In (Penguin, 1991, second … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Negotiation as Your BATNA: The Syrian Civil War and Crisis Negotiations

Posted July 12th, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under BATNA.

Sometimes your best alternative to a negotiated agreement (BATNA) is realizing that the negotiation itself is worth the risk. Back in May 2012, the United States and Russia announced a plan to hold a peace conference aimed at ending the civil war in Syria, which had killed more than 70,000 people at that time. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Repairing Relationships Using Negotiation Skills

Posted July 7th, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Dispute Resolution.

Negotiation is not only something we do at work; often the toughest negotiations we encounter are in our personal lives. Some of the most successful negotiation examples of the power of negotiation skills in dispute resolution is when they repair relationships between friends. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Dear Negotiation Coach: Managing Expectations and “Being Nice”

Posted July 5th, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Uncategorized.

Managing expectations at the negotiation table can be a challenge, especially when our counterparts ideas and our own are far apart. But what happens when it’s our own expectations of other people’s behaviors we have to manage? We had a question around this topic recently. Q: There have been a few times recently when I felt … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Value Claiming in Negotiation

Posted July 5th, 2022 by Katie Shonk & filed under Uncategorized.

In most negotiations, we face two goals: claiming value and creating value. Value can be defined as anything you would like to get out a negotiation, whether it be more dollars, a consulting contract, a new rug, an end to conflict, and so on. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

What is Distributive Negotiation and Five Proven Strategies

Posted July 4th, 2022 by Katie Shonk & filed under Dealmaking.

Most negotiations call for very different, even opposing, skills: collaboration and competition. To get a great deal, we typically must work with others to find new sources of value while also competing with them to claim as much of that value for ourselves. Before mastering the intricacies of value creation in negotiation, it helps to … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Power in Negotiation: Examples of Being Overly Committed to the Deal

Posted July 4th, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Dealmaking.

When you’re more tightly bound to an agreement than your counterpart is, trouble could follow in negotiation. Manage your escalation of commitment—and level the playing field. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Negotiation in Business: Ethics, Bias, and Bargaining in Good Faith

Posted July 4th, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Business Negotiations.

As we’ve discussed in previous articles about negotiation examples in business, a negotiator’s beliefs concerning negotiation ethics are affected by cognitive biases. You probably can recall times when a negotiating opponent made what appeared to be a blatant misstatement. If you’re like most people, you assumed the person was lying to gain an advantage. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

How to Find the ZOPA in Business Negotiations

Posted June 27th, 2022 by Katie Shonk & filed under Business Negotiations.

In business negotiation, two polar-opposite errors are common: reaching agreement when it wouldn’t be wise to do so, and walking away from a mutually beneficial outcome. How can you avoid these pitfalls? Through careful preparation that includes an analysis of the zone of possible agreement, or ZOPA in business negotiations. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Distributive Bargaining Strategies

Posted June 23rd, 2022 by Katie Shonk & filed under Uncategorized.

Wise negotiators recognize the value of both collaborating and competing at the bargaining table. They look for ways to increase the pie of value for all parties, often by identifying differences across issues and making tradeoffs. And they also rely on distributive bargaining strategies to try to claim as much of that larger pie for … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Negotiation Research: When Many BATNAs Are Worse Than One

Posted June 16th, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under BATNA.

Negotiators are often taught that the more alternatives they have, the more fortunate they are. If it’s good to have one strong best alternative to a negotiated agreement, or BATNA, then it’s better to have many BATNAs, right? Not necessarily, results from a study by Michael Schaerer of INSEAD and his colleagues show. In a series … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Power in Negotiations: How to Maximize a Weak BATNA

Posted June 16th, 2022 by Katie Shonk & filed under BATNA.

In business negotiations, we tend to assume that it’s the more financially successful party that has an edge. But if that party has a weak BATNA, or best alternative to a negotiated agreement, it could be the seemingly weaker party that comes out on top. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

What is Conflict Resolution, and How Does It Work?

Posted June 14th, 2022 by Katie Shonk & filed under Conflict Resolution.

If you work with others, sooner or later you will almost inevitably face the need for conflict resolution. You may need to mediate a dispute between two members of your department. Or you may find yourself angered by something a colleague reportedly said about you in a meeting. Or you may need to engage in … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Job Negotiation Advice to Help You Succeed

Posted June 2nd, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Uncategorized.

One of the more interesting segues to job negotiation advice emerged from the December 2014 leaks of hacked Sony Pictures data and an e-mail revealing a young actress’s efforts to be paid on the same level as her male peers. In a December 2013 e-mail to Sony Pictures cochair Amy Pascal, Columbia Pictures executive Andrew Gumpert … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Teaching Critical Leadership Skills

Posted May 13th, 2022 by Lara SanPietro & filed under Uncategorized.

Running a multinational corporation, starting a small business, or leading a diplomatic mission all require critical leadership skills. Being an effective leader necessitates negotiating both within your organization and with external partners. In Real Leaders Negotiate, author Jeswald Salacuse explains that leaders can increase their effectiveness by using negotiation in each of the three phases … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

When a Little Power is a Dangerous Thing

Posted April 7th, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Uncategorized.

In 1975, Leigh Steinberg launched his career as a sports agent by proving that even a little power can be a dangerous thing. He faced what appeared to be a tough negotiation with the Atlanta Falcons. The team had chosen Steinberg’s client, rookie quarterback Steve Bartkowski, as their first pick in the first round of … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

BATNA Analysis Can Help You Avoid the Agreement Trap

Posted April 4th, 2022 by Katie Shonk & filed under BATNA.

In both our personal and our business negotiations, “getting to yes” is typically the ultimate goal. Negotiation research and advice tend to focus on identifying the conditions that can help people overcome their differences, relax firm positions, and reach harmonious terms that could lead to a mutually fulfilling long-term relationship. This mindset risks downplaying the fact … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Moving Toward Group Conflict Resolution

Posted March 24th, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under Conflict Resolution.

Over the years, what many believe to be Jesus’s tomb in Jerusalem’s Old City has been the site of tensions that have at times escalated into violence. Inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Roman Catholic communities guard the shrine surrounding the tomb, which they consider the holiest site in … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Adapting the BATNA for International Cultural Differences

Posted January 13th, 2022 by PON Staff & filed under BATNA.

The BATNA (best alternative to a negotiated agreement) concept, popularized by Roger Fisher, William Ury, and Bruce Patton in their book Getting to Yes (Penguin Books, third edition, 2011), has been disseminated all over the world and doubtless helped thousands avoid settling for less than what they want in negotiations. When you have identified your … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Ask A Negotiation Expert: Making Our Good Negotiation Skills Even Better

Posted December 6th, 2021 by PON Staff & filed under Uncategorized.

We recently spoke to Harvard Business School professor Michael Wheeler about the challenges and opportunities of learning good negotiation skills from our real life bargaining situations. Wheeler is the author of The Art of Negotiation: How to Improvise Agreement in a Chaotic World (Simon & Schuster, 2013) and the “Negotiation 360” preparation app, which is … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

To Achieve a Win Win Situation, First Negotiate with Yourself

Posted November 25th, 2021 by PON Staff & filed under Uncategorized.

In business negotiations, our actions and reactions often go against our best interests. Self-examination can help, writes Getting to Yes author William Ury in his new book. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

How to Deal with a Hardball Strategy When You Have a Weak BATNA

Posted November 18th, 2021 by PON Staff & filed under BATNA.

In negotiation, visions of collaborating to create new sources of value can quickly evaporate when the other party engages in a hardball strategy—such as penalizing us financially, attacking our reputation, walking away, or threatening to do all of the above. Suddenly we find ourselves on the defensive, scrambling to do more than just break even. That’s … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

What is Negotiation?

Posted October 14th, 2021 by Katie Shonk & filed under Uncategorized.

Many people dread negotiation, not recognizing that they negotiate on a regular, even daily basis. Most of us face formal negotiations throughout our personal and professional lives: discussing the terms of a job offer with a recruiter, haggling over the price of a new car, hammering out a contract with a supplier. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

10 Hard-Bargaining Tactics to Watch Out for in a Negotiation

Posted October 11th, 2021 by PON Staff & filed under BATNA.

Don’t be caught unprepared by hard bargainers, warn Robert Mnookin, Scott Peppet, and Andrew Tulumello in their book Beyond Winning. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Top 10 Negotiation Skills You Must Learn to Succeed

Posted October 11th, 2021 by Katie Shonk & filed under Uncategorized.

Increasingly, business negotiators recognize that the most effective bargainers are skilled at both creating value and claiming value—that is, they both collaborate and compete. The following 10 negotiation skills will help you succeed at integrative negotiation. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

The Deal-Making Process: Playing the Long Game

Posted September 20th, 2021 by PON Staff & filed under BATNA.

Do you have regrets about the deals that got away? If so, you might be newly motivated by the deal-making process of famed Hollywood movie and television producer Albert S. Ruddy. For 50 years he pursued two pet film projects—each of which finally led to a negotiated agreement and is coming to fruition. A Deal-Making Process … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Using Effective Group Leadership to Bring a Multiparty Agreement Back from the Brink

Posted September 9th, 2021 by PON Staff & filed under Business Negotiations.

In December 2015 in Paris, delegates from 195 nations celebrated the results of effective group leadership when they reached agreement on a landmark global climate accord. But a year and a half later, the future of the accord sank into doubt when American president Donald Trump revealed he was withdrawing the United States from the … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

In Negotiation, it’s All in the Timing

Posted July 15th, 2021 by PON Staff & filed under Dealmaking.

Back on July 11, 2000, U.S. president Bill Clinton welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat to a summit at Camp David aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict once and for all. The summit covered various contentious issues, including territory, settlements, security, and the status of refugees. After about two weeks, … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Q&A with William Ury, author of Getting To Yes With Yourself

Posted June 25th, 2021 by Lara SanPietro & filed under Uncategorized.

Are You Your Own Worst Enemy? We interviewed William Ury, co-founder of the Program on Negotiation, one of the world’s leading experts on negotiation, and bestselling author of Getting to Yes and Getting Past No, about his book, Getting To Yes With Yourself. Great negotiators know that the path to resolution is not always linear but rather … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Dear Negotiation Coach: How to Negotiate Price and Start Off on the Right Foot

Posted May 11th, 2021 by PON Staff & filed under Dealmaking.

Do you know how to negotiate price? Is there a better way to approach this type of negotiation that differs from other negotiation strategies? In this week’s Dear Negotiation Coach column, we answer the question. QUESTION I’m trying to decide whether to make the first offer in a price negotiation. I’ve heard arguments in favor of both … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Business Negotiation Strategies for Managing the Tension Between Claiming and Creating Value

Posted March 4th, 2021 by PON Staff & filed under BATNA.

When it comes to great business negotiation strategies, there’s no better example than the cast of Friends in their heyday. David Schwimmer, the actor who played Ross on the hit NBC sitcom Friends, famously convinced the show’s five other leads in the early years of its run to negotiate their contracts with NBC as a team. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Bargaining in Bad Faith: Dealing with “False Negotiators”

Posted December 31st, 2020 by PON Staff & filed under Dealing with Difficult People.

We tend to forget—at our peril—that not everyone at the bargaining table wants to close a deal and may be bargaining in bad faith. Consider the following negotiations:

A competitor approaches you about a potential partnership. After a series of meetings that seemed promising, however, your counterpart stops returning your calls. You are left with the nagging … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

For Business Negotiators, Patience Can be a Virtue

Posted December 22nd, 2020 by PON Staff & filed under BATNA.

Business negotiators know that persistence and tenacity can make all the difference between impasse and a game-changing breakthrough. Take the saga behind Microsoft’s 2013 announcement of its pending $7.2 billion acquisition of Finnish mobile phone company Nokia’s handset and services business. The two parties engaged in many months of fruitless talks before either side believed … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Leveraging BATNA at the Dinner Table: Negotiate Your Way to Holiday Cheer

Posted December 21st, 2020 by Katie Shonk & filed under Uncategorized.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, or so they say. As we look ahead to winter vacation and seemingly endless days of family celebrations, many feel a sense of dread, anticipating tensions and conflict as drearily predictable as overcooked turkey and practical gifts. Even those who look forward to family get-togethers often end … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

The Top Three Defensive Negotiation Strategies You Need to Know

Posted December 15th, 2020 by PON Staff & filed under BATNA.

In the course of a career, a negotiator will confront many skilled persuaders. Here, we review three defensive negotiation strategies a negotiator can employ. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

A Negotiation Preparation Checklist

Posted December 14th, 2020 by Katie Shonk & filed under Uncategorized.

Without a doubt, the biggest mistake that negotiators make—and one that many make routinely—is failing to thoroughly prepare. When you haven’t done the necessary analysis and research, you are highly likely to leave value on the table and even to be taken advantage of by your counterpart. A negotiation preparation checklist can help you avoid … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

BATNA and Risky Negotiation Tactics

Posted December 8th, 2020 by PON Staff & filed under BATNA.

Your BATNA is your “best alternative to a negotiated agreement.” Expect that your negotiating counterpart has one going into a negotiation, and so should you. Below is a good BATNA negotiation example involving how to leverage your away-from-the-bargaining-table options and the risks inherent with such a negotiation strategy. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Setting Standards in Negotiations

Posted December 3rd, 2020 by PON Staff & filed under Uncategorized.

As the starting point from which all commercial transactions occur, from purchasing equipment to setting salaries, negotiatiosn in business is an essential skill no matter what field a negotiator finds herself. Using an objective standard can strengthen your proposal and eliminate emotional bias. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Star Wars Stories: George Lucas and a Strong BATNA, Passed Over

Posted December 1st, 2020 by Katie Shonk & filed under BATNA.

In negotiation, your best source of power is typically your best alternative to a negotiated agreement, or BATNA. When you are aware that you have an appealing alternative deal to the one you’re working on, you will be less tempted to accept an agreement that doesn’t meet your minimum requirements. A strong BATNA gives you … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Managing a Multiparty Negotiation

Posted November 26th, 2020 by Katie Shonk & filed under Dealmaking.

Multiparty negotiations can be incredibly challenging. Just ask the negotiators from over 170 countries who managed to reach agreement on October 15 on a legally binding accord to combat climate change. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

5 Tips for Improving Your Negotiation Skills

Posted November 23rd, 2020 by Katie Shonk & filed under Uncategorized.

The prospect of boosting our negotiation skills can be so overwhelming that we often delay taking the necessary steps we can follow to improve, such as taking time to prepare thoroughly. The following five guidelines will help you break this daunting task into a series of manageable—and often essential—strategies. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

The Importance of Power in Negotiations: Taylor Swift Shakes it Off

Posted November 23rd, 2020 by Katie Shonk & filed under Dispute Resolution.

In negotiation, our success often hinges on our bargaining power—which in turn can depend on forces beyond our control. That truism was highlighted in two recent disputes arising from business negotiations over the pricing of copyrighted material in the digital era, one from the music world, the other from publishing. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

5 Types of Negotiation Skills

Posted November 19th, 2020 by Katie Shonk & filed under Uncategorized.

Businesspeople who are looking for effective negotiation strategies often confront a dizzying array of advice. It can be useful to take a step back and categorize these strategies into various types of negotiation tactics. Highlighting the benefits of negotiation in business, the following five types of negotiation tactics can help you think more broadly about … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Price Anchoring 101

Posted November 19th, 2020 by Katie Shonk & filed under Uncategorized.

Opening offers have a strong effect in price negotiations. The first offer typically serves as an anchor that strongly influences the discussion that follows. In research documenting price anchoring, psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky found that even random numbers can have a dramatic impact on people’s subsequent judgments and decisions. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

For Better Communication, Try Appreciation

Posted November 16th, 2020 by Katie Shonk & filed under Uncategorized.

Many professional negotiators have come away from talks wondering, How did that pleasant discussion turn sour? Why did the deal unravel at the last minute? … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Understanding Your Counterpart’s BATNA

Posted November 16th, 2020 by PON Staff & filed under BATNA.

One of the most popular questions concerning negotiation strategy and an area of negotiation research that draws heavily on negotiation examples in real life is how do negotiators identify their BATNA, or best alternative to a negotiated agreement, and even better, how do they identify their counterpart’s BATNA? Consider the saga of a company that … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Negotiation in Business: Ignore Sunk Costs

Posted November 12th, 2020 by PON Staff & filed under Business Negotiations.

Think about what your house, condominium, or some other valuable asset might be worth in today’s market. Did the price you paid for it affect your answer? … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Overcoming Barriers to Agreement: How Dell Computer’s BATNA Informed Its Privatization Negotiations

Posted November 10th, 2020 by Katie Shonk & filed under BATNA.

In negotiation, your best source of power typically is your “best alternative to a negotiated agreement,” or BATNA. By cultivating appealing options away from the table, you free yourself up to walk away in the event of a disappointing deal. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Leadership Styles in Crisis Negotiations

Posted November 9th, 2020 by Alex Green & filed under Uncategorized.

Since the start of the global economic recession in 2008, few issues have proven as explosive as the Greek debt crisis. The Greek government’s commitment to repay billions of dollars in loans has been a source of contention with creditors ever since a sizable bailout was issued in 2010. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

What to Do When Your BATNA is Not Good Enough

Posted November 5th, 2020 by PON Staff & filed under BATNA.

The following question was featured in the “Ask the Negotiation Coach” section of the Negotiation Briefings newsletter, April 2010 issue. Question: What should I do when a negotiation seems to be all about price, I have no BATNA, and the other side knows it? … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Negotiation and Bargaining with Your BATNA in Mind

Posted October 29th, 2020 by Katie Shonk & filed under BATNA.

Experienced negotiators understand they should reject any deal that is inferior to their best alternative to a negotiated agreement, or BATNA. What is a BATNA in negotiation? Your BATNA is the best possible outcome you could get if you walked away from your current negotiation and bargaining situation. When negotiating at an auto dealership, for … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

The Hidden Hazards of BATNA Development

Posted October 26th, 2020 by PON Staff & filed under BATNA.

The following question was posed to Program on Negotiation faculty member and associate professor of business administration at Harvard Business School in the Negotiations, Organizations & Markets Unit, Francesca Gino and involves a negotiation example from real life from the world of business negotiations. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

What is BATNA?

Posted October 22nd, 2020 by PON Staff & filed under BATNA.

What is BATNA? Negotiations in which each counterpart has a best alternative to a negotiated agreement are scenarios in which the incentive to work together must exceed the value of alternatives away from the negotiation table. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Negotiation Techniques: How to Predict a Negotiator’s Decisions

Posted October 20th, 2020 by Breanna Beaumont & filed under Dealmaking.

Improving your negotiation skills can only take you so far – eventually you need to assess you behavior preferences as a negotiator. Being able to predict how you will behave in a given bargaining scenario will help you augment the negotiation training you have received as well as help you achieve better outcomes at the … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

In Group Negotiation, Avoid a Turf Battle

Posted October 15th, 2020 by Katie Shonk & filed under Business Negotiations.

In group negotiation, turf battles—heated conflicts over territory, control, rights, or power—are common. Department heads clash over scarce resources. Companies, community groups, and governments get tied up in lawsuits over undeveloped land. Across the globe, fishing groups have depleted fish stocks in their rush to catch the biggest share for themselves. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Know Your BATNA: The Power of Information in Negotiation

Posted October 15th, 2020 by Katie Shonk & filed under BATNA.

Knowing when to walk away in a negotiation is some of the most powerful information in negotiation a negotiator can bring to the bargaining table – and this means a negotiator should know her BATNA or best alternative to a negotiated agreement. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Negotiating Around a Bad BATNA

Posted October 8th, 2020 by Katie Shonk & filed under BATNA.

Don’t assume your public statements will win over a reluctant negotiator. Know when it’s best to move on and make the most of your current situation. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

South Korea’s Innovative Long-Term Negotiation Strategy with North Korea

Posted October 6th, 2020 by Katie Shonk & filed under Business Negotiations.

In negotiation, a combination of several negotiation strategies may be needed to move past a difficult impasse. The decades-long protracted negotiations between North Korea and South Korea provides such a case study. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Negotiation Games

Posted October 6th, 2020 by PON Staff & filed under Conflict Resolution.

Going to trial, it’s said, is like rolling the dice. In this article, we discuss what negotiators need to be aware of to avoid negotiation games before heading to the courtroom. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Price Negotiation Advice for Consumers

Posted October 6th, 2020 by Katie Shonk & filed under Business Negotiations.

It’s official: Price negotiations aren’t just for big-ticket items anymore. The prices of furniture, electronics, wine, jewelry, and other “medium-ticket” goods are now frequently up for discussion. The ancient art of haggling has made a comeback, so brush up on your skills with our six price negotiation tactics. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Mutually Beneficial Agreements: Tips for Creating Deals that Last

Posted October 5th, 2020 by Katie Shonk & filed under Business Negotiations.

David Schwimmer, the actor who played Ross on the hit television comedy Friends, famously convinced the show’s five other leads in the early years of its run to negotiate their contracts with NBC as a team. The “mini union” formed by the actors ultimately helped them negotiate an unprecedented $1 million each per episode during … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Deceptive Tactics in Negotiation: How to Ward Them Off

Posted October 5th, 2020 by Katie Shonk & filed under Uncategorized.

Deceptive tactics in negotiation can run rampant: parties “stretch” the numbers, conceal key information, and make promises they know they can’t keep. The benefits of negotiation in business offer strong incentives to detect these behaviors. Unfortunately, however, most of us are very poor lie detectors. Even professionals who encounter liars regularly, such as police officers and … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Negotiation Skills in Business Negotiation and Status Consciousness

Posted September 28th, 2020 by PON Staff & filed under Business Negotiations.

Before and during your negotiation, think about who you’ve chosen as a reference group against which you measure yourself. Did you select the group purely to enhance your own status, or did you try to make a more appropriate comparison? What are your negotiation skills in business communication? … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

How to Negotiate in Good Faith

Posted January 6th, 2020 by Katie Shonk & filed under Business Negotiations.

Have you ever negotiated with someone who seemed intent on sabotaging the negotiation or taking unfair advantage? If so, you would benefit from learning more about what it mean to negotiate in good faith. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement: Beyond the Basics

Posted December 30th, 2019 by Katie Shonk & filed under BATNA.

What is your greatest source of power in negotiation? In their landmark negotiation book Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In (Penguin, 1991), Roger Fisher, William Ury, and Bruce Patton write that it is often a strong BATNA, or best alternative to a negotiated agreement. Before and during their negotiations, wise negotiators determine their … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

10 Top Negotiation Examples

Posted September 26th, 2019 by PON Staff & filed under Uncategorized.

Here’s a recap of some of the most interesting and challenging negotiation examples, featuring many of the world’s most famous negotiators. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Posted August 29th, 2019 by PON Staff & filed under Business Negotiations.

Here are ten popular business negotiation articles on the Program on Negotiation website. Drawn from a variety of negotiation case studies as well as negotiation research, the following articles offer strategies for engaging in integrative negotiations aimed at creating win-win scenarios for each party at the negotiation table. 1. What is the Right of First Refusal? Rights … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Best-In-Class Negotiation Case Studies

Posted August 5th, 2019 by Lara SanPietro & filed under Uncategorized.

What’s one of the best ways to teach the art and science of negotiation? Case studies and articles that spark lively discussion or facilitate self-reflection. Based on real-world examples, these teaching resources are designed to help students envision how to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom and beyond. The Teaching Negotiation Resource Center (TNRC) at … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Role Play Simulations to Help You Become a Better Mediator

Posted July 25th, 2019 by Lara SanPietro & filed under Uncategorized.

When opposing parties cannot come to a satisfactory resolution, a strong mediator can make all the difference. By effectively examining the issues at hand and helping parties identify creative solutions, a well-trained mediator builds consensus where there once was none. To help professionals learn the art of mediation, the Program on Negotiation’s Teaching Negotiation Resource Center … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

10 Notable Negotiations

Posted July 9th, 2019 by Katie Shonk & filed under Business Negotiations.

In 2016, political dealmaking and corporate mergers took center stage. We look back on some of the most notable of these negotiations, which offer significant lessons to professional negotiators. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

What an Operatic Role-Play Simulation Can Teach You About Negotiation

Posted May 23rd, 2019 by Lara SanPietro & filed under Uncategorized.

A distinguished older soprano, Sally has not had a lead role in two years. However, when another soprano falls ill, the Lyric Opera is eager to hire Sally…but at what price? Sally Soprano is one of the best-known role-play simulations from the Program on Negotiation’s Teaching Negotiation Resource Center (TNRC). And it’s a classic for good … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

10 Negotiation Failures

Posted March 26th, 2019 by PON Staff & filed under Uncategorized.

Here’s a list of some of the most notable negotiation flops – from deals that were over before they started, to those that were botched at the table, to those that proved disastrous well after the ink had dried. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Conflict Resolution Scenarios: Negotiating Values

Posted February 18th, 2019 by Katie Shonk & filed under Conflict Resolution.

The most heated types of conflict in organizations and in our personal lives often concern our core values, such as our personal moral standards, our religious and political beliefs, and our family’s welfare. Such values conflicts can escalate and intervening quickly in cases of conflict is essential. The following three conflict resolution scenarios can help … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Negotiation Techniques and Tactics: Power Plays

Posted February 4th, 2019 by Katie Shonk & filed under Uncategorized.

Imagine you’re a chef who is having trouble finding cooks in an oversaturated restaurant market. You’re so desperate to get fully staffed that you find yourself making significant concessions on salary, scheduling, and other issues during interviews with potential hires. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Business Negotiation Solutions: Coping with Low Power

Posted January 14th, 2019 by Katie Shonk & filed under Business Negotiations.

In business negotiations, a little power is better than none at all, right? After all, if talks with a prospective client fail, we’d rather have a few unpromising leads to turn to rather than none. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

A Bad BATNA for Modern Farmer Magazine

Posted July 9th, 2018 by Katie Shonk & filed under BATNA.

In business negotiations, our mistakes sometimes end up affecting not only the current deal, but our best alternative to a negotiated agreement, or BATNA, in deals that lie down the road. That’s a lesson that Ann Marie Gardner, the founder and editor of the hip new magazine Modern Farmer, has learned the hard way. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Bargaining at a Fever Pitch

Posted May 29th, 2018 by PON Staff & filed under Uncategorized.

Have you ever won an auction only to realize later that you overbid for the prize? In competitive bidding situations, it’s easy to get carried away in the heat of the moment and overpay. The Boston Red Sox 2006 procurement of Japanese pitching phenomenon Daisuke “Dice-K” Matsuzaka offers a lesson in keeping cool in these … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

An Exclusivity Period: A Useful Tool for Eliminating the Competition

Posted April 30th, 2018 by PON Staff & filed under Dealmaking.

Imagine you’re competing with multiple parties to secure a coveted resource, such as your dream house, a cool invention, or a talented new hire. How might you stand out from the pack and win the prize? While negotiating its $13.4 billion acquisition of upscale grocer Whole Foods in 2017, online retailer Amazon did so in … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Posted December 21st, 2017 by Lara SanPietro & filed under Uncategorized.

What’s faster than the pace of technological development? The pace of lawsuits being filed about the adoption of new technologies, patent infringement, and intellectual property rights. In our modern world, professionals must be able to resolve highly challenging technology-related disputes – often before they reach the courtroom. That’s where the Program on Negotiation’s Teaching … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Gender Discrimination: How to Reach a Negotiated Agreement

Posted December 14th, 2017 by Lara SanPietro & filed under Uncategorized.

As you know, gender stereotypes often enter the negotiation process. Women and men are perceived to, and often do, act differently in negotiations. Furthermore, gender-based discrimination—such as less pay, unequal treatment, and sexual harassment—is often a source of conflict. With the resources available through the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center (TNRC), professionals can learn how to … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

What is the Anchoring Bias?

Posted November 6th, 2017 by Katie Shonk & filed under Uncategorized.

It may be the most burning question in business negotiation: Should you make the first offer? Traditionally, negotiators were advised to wait for the other side to make a first offer. According to this reasoning, the other side’s offer gives you valuable information about his goals and alternatives. More recently, however, research on the anchoring bias has … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

How a Bad BATNA Keeps Medicare Drug Prices High

Posted October 26th, 2017 by Katie Shonk & filed under Business Negotiations.

It’s Negotiation 101: to get what you want, you need to be able to make a credible threat to walk away from a subpar deal. And for your threat to be credible, you can’t walk in with a bad BATNA, you have to have a strong BATNA, or best alternative to a negotiated agreement. In … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Bullard Houses Role-Play Simulation Helps Researchers Explore Gender Inequality

Posted September 11th, 2017 by PON Staff & filed under Uncategorized.

In a recent Slate.com article, writer and PhD in Psychology Jane Hu described the findings of a research study by Professor Laura J. Kray, University of California, Berkeley. Kray, along with co-authors Jessica Kennedy, PhD, and Alex Van Zant, PhD, investigated the role gender played in negotiation and focused specifically on whether the stereotype of women … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

MESO Negotiation: Learn from a Seller’s Market

Posted June 26th, 2017 by Katie Shonk & filed under Dealmaking.

What negotiating skills can negotiators take away from hyper competitive bargaining situations? With home sales heating up (again) in some parts of the United States, homebuyers are facing competition they haven’t seen since before the real-estate bubble burst back in 2008, and it’s showing up in the form of packed open houses, multiple bids above … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Video: Setting the Stage for Productive Negotiations

Posted May 15th, 2017 by PON Staff & filed under Daily.

Understanding how to arrange the meeting space is a key aspect of preparing for productive negotiations. In this video, Guhan Subramanian, professor at Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School, discusses a real world example of how seating arrangements can influence a negotiator’s success. The discussion was held in his negotiation training workshop “Setting the … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Exercising Your BATNA: When American Apparel Ousted Dov Charney

Posted April 13th, 2017 by Katie Shonk & filed under BATNA.

On June 18, 2015 the board of retailer American Apparel informed the company’s controversial founder, Dov Charney, that it was ousting him from his roles as chairman and CEO. For years, Charney had fended off sexual-harrassment lawsuits and rumors of inappropriate behavior. But only when the company’s creditors grew anxious about its long-term liability did … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Negotiation Research: When Powerful Negotiators Cut Corners

Posted April 12th, 2017 by PON Staff & filed under BATNA.

Negotiators often are advised to seek out lots of information about their counterpart, including information about the other party’s power. One of the most important measures of power is a negotiator’s BATNA, or best alternative to a negotiated agreement—the ability to walk away, secure in the knowledge that you can get what you want somewhere … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Resolving Conflicts Over Deeply Held Values

Posted March 14th, 2017 by PON Staff & filed under Conflict Resolution.

Astronomers consider Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano that rises more than two miles above the Pacific Ocean on the island of Hawaii, to be the premier site in the world for viewing the night sky. Due to the volcano’s high altitude and tranquil, dark nights, NASA and groups of scientists from around the globe began … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

BATNA: Negotiation Preparation to Help Avoid Giving Up at the Bargaining Table

Posted March 7th, 2017 by PON Staff & filed under Dealmaking.

When you expect an opponent to be competitive, your confidence in the outcomes you can achieve in negotiation is likely to plummet. In negotiation research with Adam Galinsky of Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, negotiators were provided with some background about their counterpart including information on how competitive their counterpart has been in previous negotiations. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Top International Multiparty Negotiations: Dissent in the European Union

Posted February 21st, 2017 by PON Staff & filed under Uncategorized.

A European Union summit held in late October 2013 failed to make headway toward more coordination of economic policies. Facing resistance from Germany in particular, European officials grew pessimistic regarding their odds of negotiating a deal over the next year to lay the foundation for a banking union for the 17 nations that use the … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Using Your BATNA: Bruce Patton and William Ury Discuss the ‘Fiscal Cliff’

Posted February 14th, 2017 by PON Staff & filed under BATNA.

A standoff between Democrat President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans in 2012 focused attention on the negotiation styles employed by the two parties as they sought to secure their interests while also working toward the resolution of a budgetary battle. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

The Leadership Skills of Late Night

Posted January 23rd, 2017 by Alex Green & filed under Uncategorized.

Selecting the right person for a challenging job is often more than just a hiring decision. It’s a negotiation. Doing it well requires exceptional leadership skills. Nowhere is this clearer than in late night television. Last year, Jay Leno left The Tonight Show. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Negotiation and Leadership Skills: Jerry Brown Re-Frames a Deal at High Speed

Posted January 19th, 2017 by Alex Green & filed under Uncategorized.

Starting construction on an 800-mile rail network in the world’s 8th largest economy without the funds in place to finish the job may seem crazy, but in California Governor Jerry Brown’s case it was a calculated gamble by a seasoned leader intent on winning a long-term negotiation. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

In Platform Negotiations with Clinton, Sanders Was Victorious

Posted December 20th, 2016 by Katie Shonk & filed under BATNA.

With the 2016 Democratic National Convention now over, Vermont senator Bernie Sanders used the Hillary Clinton campaign’s fear of a divisive spectacle in Philadelphia to extract concessions on the party’s official platform and committee assignments. The senator’s tough dealmaking suggests an important negotiation lesson: Always know your BATNA and ZOPA in any negotiation. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Protecting Yourself from Competitive Expectations

Posted November 22nd, 2016 by PON Staff & filed under Dealmaking.

Like other cognitive biases, competitive expectations can be insidious. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to forestall their negative consequences. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Creating and Claiming Value Through Haggling – Assess The Other Party’s BATNA in Dealmaking Negotiations

Posted November 15th, 2016 by PON Staff & filed under BATNA.

Now it’s time to assess the best deal you might get. Figuring out the other party’s reservation price is the key to knowing how far you will be able to push him, write Deepak Malhotra and Max H. Bazerman in their book Negotiation Genius: How to Overcome Obstacles and Achieve Brilliant Results at the Bargaining … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Worst Negotiation Tactics of 2015

Posted November 10th, 2016 by Lara SanPietro & filed under Uncategorized.

Here are some of the worst negotiation tactics displayed during calendar year 2015 – from hard-bargaining, distributive negotiation strategies aimed at getting the whole pie to stonewalling strategies intended to stymy the development of a negotiated agreement. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Worst Negotiation Tactics of 2015

Posted November 10th, 2016 by Katie Shonk & filed under Uncategorized.

Here are some of the worst negotiation tactics displayed during calendar year 2015 – from hard-bargaining, distributive negotiation strategies aimed at getting the whole pie to stonewalling strategies intended to stymy the development of a negotiated agreement. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Manage Your Power at the Bargaining Table

Posted November 8th, 2016 by PON Staff & filed under Uncategorized.

Avoid the common traps that come with having high power or low power. In early August, employees of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), New York University (NYU), and Yale University sued their employers for allowing investment companies to charge excessive fees on their retirement plans, the New York Times reports. The universities were accused of … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

10 Top Business Negotiations

Posted November 3rd, 2016 by PON Staff & filed under Dealmaking.

Looking back on the past, 2013 witnessed a series of colorful mergers, acquisitions, and other deals. Here are the 10 top negotiations and negotiation trends of that year from which business dealmakers can learn. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Managing Cultural Differences: Negotiation Strategy and Diplomacy

Posted October 31st, 2016 by Katie Shonk & filed under Uncategorized.

Diplomats deal with difficult people when engaging in international negotiations in ways integrative negotiators may find useful for developing their negotiation skills. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Exploring New Opportunities to Negotiate in Conflict Resolution

Posted August 8th, 2016 by PON Staff & filed under Conflict Resolution.

Many U.S. law schools are in crisis, to hear some tell it. To combat economic downturns, many law firms instituted policies of mass layoffs and pay cuts. Years after the 2008 financial recession, few have recovered. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Negotiation Research You Can Use: When Fear of Impasse Leads to Bad Deals

Posted August 5th, 2016 by PON Staff & filed under BATNA.

Experienced negotiators understand that they should reject any deal on the table that is inferior to their best alternative to a negotiated agreement, or BATNA. At an auto dealership, for example, you shouldn’t buy a used car if you are pretty sure you can get a better deal on a comparable car elsewhere. Yet in … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

In Renegotiation with Britain, EU Faced Weak BATNA

Posted March 17th, 2016 by Katie Shonk & filed under Uncategorized.

How David Cameron’s Tory government’s plans to leave the euro-zone have EU ministers scrambling in negotiations with a weak alternative to a negotiated agreement. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

With Patient Approach, FBI Steered Oregon Occupiers Toward Their BATNA

Posted March 10th, 2016 by Katie Shonk & filed under BATNA.

The 41-day armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon ended on February 11 when the last occupiers surrendered. Federal authorities in six states also arrested seven others accused of being involved in the occupation, according to the Associated Press. The standoff had begun when Ammon Bundy and his followers took over the … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

In Business Negotiations for Super Bowl I Tape, NFL Stops the Clock

Posted February 8th, 2016 by Katie Shonk & filed under Business Negotiations.

The Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs 35 to 10 in Super Bowl I. But that’s not the end of the story. In business negotiations, and particularly sales negotiation, enthusiasm is required when trying to convince our counterparts that we have what they need. But that enthusiasm isn’t always infectious. The tale of … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

In Negotiations with Ben Affleck, No Appealing BATNA

Posted February 2nd, 2016 by Katie Shonk & filed under BATNA.

In negotiation, your best source of power is typically your best alternative to a negotiated agreement, or BATNA. Having a strong outside alternative enables you to walk away from a deal that doesn’t meet your needs or that would compromise your vision or ethics. But when you are dealing with a negotiating partner who seems irreplaceable, … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Top 10 Celebrity Negotiations of 2015

Posted January 21st, 2016 by Katie Shonk & filed under Uncategorized.

Here are the top 10 celebrity negotiations from the year 2015. From integrative bargaining strategies to building bridges with counterparts in contentious talks, these negotiation scenarios demonstrate the effectiveness of collaborative, win-win negotiation tactics. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Feeling pressured by a counterpart? Try imposing conditions

Posted January 8th, 2016 by PON Staff & filed under Uncategorized.

Your boss asks you to disrupt some family plans to work through the weekend. The PTA president at your children’s school wants you to chair an important benefit that no one else will lead. A customer asks you to participate in an auction rather than negotiating one-on-one for his contract. Being asked to do something we … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Win-Win Negotiation with Bethenny Frankel

Posted November 19th, 2015 by PON Staff & filed under Business Negotiations.

In this negotiation scenario straight from reality television, Lu Ann de Lesseps, Ramona Singer, and Sonja Morgan test their negotiating prowess against reality tv network Bravo in their contract renewal renegotiations. Skinnygirl mogul and financial whiz kid, Bethenny Frankel, offers a template for bargaining for success on reality tv and beyond. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Negotiation in the News: Greece’s bad deal gets worse

Posted September 9th, 2015 by PON Staff & filed under Uncategorized.

Sometimes in negotiation, we bargain less as the equal of our counterpart than as a supplicant, hands outstretched in the hope that the other party will help us stay afloat. Negotiating as the weaker party requires a special set of skills as we strive to advocate for our needs without irritating the other party into … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

When armed with negotiating power, use it wisely

Posted June 9th, 2015 by PON Staff & filed under Business Negotiations.

The buzz of excitement that arose in February at the news that Harper Lee, author of the beloved novel To Kill a Mockingbird, would be publishing a second novel quickly turned to concern. The 88-year-old Lee, who suffered a stroke in 2007 and resides in an assisted-living facility in her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama, long … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Negotiation Frontiers: Exploring New Opportunities to Negotiate

Posted February 12th, 2015 by PON Staff & filed under BATNA.

Many U.S. law schools are in crisis, to hear some tell it. During the recent recession, many law firms instituted mass layoffs and pay cuts, and few have fully recovered. As a result, college graduates are thinking twice about becoming lawyers, and many law schools have fewer high-quality applicants to choose from. In the past … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Deal Negotiation and Dealmaking: What to Do On Your Own

Posted February 9th, 2015 by PON Staff & filed under Dealmaking.

Six negotiation skills tips for negotiators seeking to creative value during their next round at the bargaining table. Business negotiators are often faced with the complex task of coordinating multiple parties – here are some tips for the individual business negotiator on how to achieve success in her next deal negotiation. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Tough Negotiation Tips from Jennifer Aniston?

Posted February 3rd, 2015 by Alex Green & filed under Uncategorized.

Fans of the television show Friends got a treat last month when Netflix made all 236 episodes of the blockbuster hit available to stream online. At first glance actors Lisa Kudrow, Jennifer Aniston and the rest of the star-studded cast might not be your first pick to peg as formidable negotiators, but at the height … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Preparing for Multiparty Negotiation

Posted January 16th, 2015 by PON Staff & filed under Conflict Resolution.

When you’re getting ready to meet with more than one party, the usual steps of two-party negotiation apply. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

The battle for the LA Clippers

Posted October 15th, 2014 by PON Staff & filed under Dealing with Difficult People.

On April 29, the National Basketball Association (NBA) banned Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling from the league for life and fined him $2.5 million in reaction to racist remarks he made during a phone call, which were made public. The NBA’s announcement, as reported by Scott Cacciola in the New York Times, set off … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

To Close an International Negotiation, Obama Tries a Domestic “Work-Around”

Posted September 9th, 2014 by Katie Shonk & filed under Uncategorized.

As he entered his second term in office, President Obama set a goal of taking concrete steps to address global climate change. A global agreement on the issue is in sight, but a key obstacle stands in the way: the U.S. Senate. According to the Constitution, a president needs approval from a two-thirds majority of … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

For Bank of America, Dealmaking to Turn the Page

Posted September 3rd, 2014 by Katie Shonk & filed under Dealmaking.

Negotiation often marks a new beginning: of a partnership, a project, or employment relationship. At other times, the goal of dealmaking is as much about reaching an ending as it is about moving forward. That’s the attitude with which Bank of America wrapped up its settlement negotiations with the Department of Justice (DOJ) last month. For … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Conflict Management: When Do “Sacred” Issues Keep Negotiators Apart?

Posted August 25th, 2014 by PON Staff & filed under Conflict Resolution.

At some point or another, most negotiators claim that a certain issue is a deal breaker.If you’re trying to sell your business, for instance, you might walk away from talks with a potential buyer who you believe would lay off many of your longtime employees. Or if someone asks you to go in on a … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Top Ten Business Deals of 2013: US Housing Market Recovery

Posted January 14th, 2014 by PON Staff & filed under Dealmaking.

With home sales heating up in some U.S. regions in 2013, homebuyers faced competition they haven’t seen since before the real-estate bubble burst, and it showed up in the form of packed open houses, multiple bids above the asking price, and all-cash offers. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Searching for a Debt Ceiling: Boehner’s Uncertain BATNA

Posted September 24th, 2013 by Katie Shonk & filed under BATNA.

As the U.S. government approaches a potentially catastrophic default on its debt in October, President Obama remains determined to avoid negotiations with Republican leaders on the issue, the New York Times reports, a situation that leaves House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner with an uncertain BATNA, or best alternative to a negotiated agreement. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Choosing When to Choose

Posted July 15th, 2013 by PON Staff & filed under Uncategorized.

When it comes to negotiation, the more choices on the table, the better your outcomes will be – right? Not necessarily. An excess of options can stand in the way off efficient agreements and, moreover, prevent you from being satisfied with the final result. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Wheelers and Dealers?

Posted May 3rd, 2013 by PON Staff & filed under Uncategorized.

Car salespeople truly understand how to use modest concessions to extract much larger ones. First, they spend a long time legitimating the sticker price and suggesting that it’s not only fair, but nonnegotiable. … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Learning from the deficit-reduction talks

Posted March 15th, 2013 by PON Staff & filed under BATNA.

Does anyone down there know how to cut a deal?” Senate Republican Mitch McConnell said to Vice President Joe Biden. It was Sunday, December 30, 2012, the day before the “fiscal cliff ” deadline, and the minority leader had phoned Biden out of a sense of desperation, report Patrick O’Connor and Peter Nicholas in the … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Bring Your Deal Back from the Brink: Probe the Other Side’s Point of View

Posted October 9th, 2012 by PON Staff & filed under Business Negotiations.

How can you figure out the motives behind someone’s seemingly stubborn position? Begin by questioning her about the problem she is trying to solve. Deal blockers may be held back by financial, legal, personal, or other constraints you don’t know about, according to Harvard Business School professor Deepak Malhotra. A tough stance could also communicate … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Crisis Negotiations – Rolling the Dice in Court

Posted July 2nd, 2012 by PON Staff & filed under Uncategorized.

Going to trial, it’s said, is like rolling the dice. That proved true when an exasperated federal judge, the Honorable Gregory A. Presnell, ordered litigants to play a game of Rock Paper Scissors if they could not privately resolve their differences over a procedural issue. The lawyers were stalemated on where to depose a witness … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Winning at “Win-Win”

Posted October 14th, 2011 by PON Staff & filed under Daily.

Lawrence Susskind (Ford Professor of Urban and Environmental Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology) “Win-win” has become a popular term in the field of negotiation, but many people have mis-perceptions about what it actually means. In this blog post, Professor Lawrence Susskind, a member of PON’s Executive Committee, clarifies that a “win-win” negotiated outcome is … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Get Ready for Team Talks

Posted June 6th, 2011 by PON Staff & filed under Daily.

Adapted from “Strength in Numbers: Negotiating as a Team,” by Elizabeth A. Mannix (professor, Cornell University), first published in the Negotiation newsletter, May 2005. The widespread belief in “strength in numbers” suggests that having more players on your team should be a benefit, not a burden. But this belief can lead team members to underprepare … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Find Strength in Numbers

Posted September 13th, 2010 by PON Staff & filed under Daily.

Adapted from “Make Your Weak Position Strong,” by Deepak Malhotra (professor, Harvard Business School), first published in the Negotiation newsletter. A common complaint among managers and executives who attend negotiation courses and seminars is that they don’t learn enough about negotiating from a position of weakness. What can you do when you have a weak BATNA, … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Keeping Your Options Alive

Posted July 26th, 2010 by PON Staff & filed under Daily.

Adapted from “Better or Best: Keeping Your Options Open,” by Michael Wheeler (professor, Harvard Business School), first published in the Negotiation newsletter. Jim, a well-regarded residential developer operating outside Philadelphia, has been scouting around for a site for his next project. Two properties seem promising. The Abbott estate consists of 75 acres of woodlands and some … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

When Does Personality Matter?

Posted July 26th, 2010 by PON Staff & filed under Daily.

Adapted from “When Tough Talk Is Beside the Point,” by Hal Movius (instructor, The Program on Technology Negotiation, Program on Negotiation, Harvard Law School), first published in the Negotiation newsletter. Most of us intuitively believe that personality traits such as toughness matter a great deal in negotiation. Yet studies by Bruce Barry and Raymond Friedman of … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Questioning threats

Posted June 21st, 2010 by PON Staff & filed under Daily.

Adapted from “How to Defuse Threats at the Bargaining Table,” by Katie A. Liljenquist (professor, Brigham Young University) and Adam D. Galinsky (professor, Northwestern University), first published in the Negotiation newsletter. Sooner or later, every negotiator faces threats at the bargaining table. How should you respond when the other side threatens to walk away, file a … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

When “fairness” is a distraction

Posted May 14th, 2010 by PON Staff & filed under Daily.

Adapted from “Accept or Reject?” by Deepak Malhotra (professor, Harvard Business School), first published in the Negotiation newsletter.

Negotiators usually have strong feelings about fairness. Unfortunately, our fairness perceptions tend to be biased in a self-serving manner. Research has shown that, at the end of a negotiation, most people feel they were more cooperative … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Gain greater leverage with sole suppliers

Posted May 3rd, 2010 by PON Staff & filed under Business Negotiations, Daily.

Adapted from “Negotiating with Sole Suppliers,” by David Lax (managing principal, Lax Sebenius LLC), first published in the Negotiation newsletter. Negotiators often wonder how to do business with sole suppliers who know they don’t have any real outside alternative and who take advantage of this. Without the power of a realistic best alternative to a negotiated … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Powerful Thoughts

Posted April 27th, 2010 by PON Staff & filed under Business Negotiations.

For many people, thinking about the role of power in negotiation can be paralyzing. In fact, the same people who are anxious about negotiating in general tend to be anxious about exerting their power during negotiation. Why? Perhaps because most of us realize that power, even when not explicitly discussed, is often the precipitating and … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Too much commitment?

Posted April 20th, 2010 by PON Staff & filed under Daily.

Adapted from “Are You Overly Committed to the Deal?” First published in the Negotiation newsletter. A telecommuter hires a carpenter to build a workstation for her home office. The carpenter’s contract requires payment of 50% upon signing, an additional 30% halfway through the job, and the final 20% upon completion. When the job is done, … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

“Are We Exclusive?”

Posted March 30th, 2010 by PON Staff & filed under Business Negotiations.

Ron McAfee, a carpenter and roofing expert, spent considerable time working with a condominium association on the design of a new roof deck. After gaining agreement on the proposed layout, design, and materials, McAfee submitted a written bid of $12,500. One of the board members subsequently showed McAfee’s plans to another roofer, who offered to … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Are you afraid of commitment?

Posted January 12th, 2010 by PON Staff & filed under Daily.

Adapted from “Overcoming Stage Fright: How to Prepare for a Negotiation,” by Michael Wheeler (Professor, Harvard Business School), first published in the Negotiation newsletter.

Many negotiators grow anxious as they approach the bargaining table, a reaction that puts them in good company with other distinguished professionals. Laurence Olivier’s stage fright almost ended his acting … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

Negotiating When Business and Family Collide

Posted June 30th, 2008 by PON Staff & filed under Daily.

Basic negotiation skills may seem easy to apply in business situations but what about when business and family collide? For example, a 69-year-old CEO of a large financial firm that has been in his family for three generations is considering retirement. He has three children who may be interested in taking over the business in addition … Read  

Which alternative strategy does not enhance the desirability of options to the other party?

What are strategic alternatives?

Strategic Alternatives are developed to sets direction in which human and material resources of business will be applied for a greater chance of achieving selected goals. The strategy is a comprehensive concept and, for this reason, it is often used in different ways.

Which of the following is an example of competitive strategy?

Examples of the competitive strategy include differentiation strategy, low-cost strategy, and focus or market-niche strategy. Business strategy is concerned with actions that managers undertake to improve the market position of the company through satisfying the customers.

What are the different types of functional strategies?

Thus, there may be production strategy, marketing strategy, advertisement strategy, sales strategy, human resource strategy, inventory strategy, financial strategy, training strategy, etc. A functional strategy refers to a strategy that emphasizes a particular functional area of an organization.

What are the four levels of strategy in diversification?

In a diversified company, a company having different lines of business under one umbrella, strategies are initiated at four levels. The strategies at each level of the organization are known by the name of the level. Corporate level strategy. Business level strategy. Functional level strategy. Operational level strategy.

What is the best alternative if the negotiation is unsuccessful?

Consider mediation If negotiations are unsuccessful, be prepared to consider dispute resolution. Third-party mediation can establish a constructive environment for negotiation that requires both parties to discuss, propose and resolve issues fairly and objectively.

What are the three negotiation strategies?

There are 3 key approaches to negotiations: hard, soft and principled negotiation. Many experts consider the third option – principled negotiation – to be best practice: The hard approach involves contending by using extremely competitive bargaining.

What is your best alternative to a negotiated agreement BATNA?

A BATNA, or Best Alternative to Negotiated Agreement, represents the best option to one party in a negotiation if the talks fail. A strong BATNA means that that party has a reasonably attractive alternative to negotiation; if they fail to reach agreement, they can implement the BATNA with minimal disruption.

What are the 4 different parts of the nature of negotiation?

There are four key elements that describe a personal negotiation approach: Creating value, claiming value, empathizing with others, and asserting yourself.