Negotiation Process Essays - Dispute Resolution, European Cuisine

Negotiation Process When the discussion on this type of topic comes up, it is important to understand several key points. First is the fact that negotiations of this nature are done by one group (or institution) to another group. Now, knowing this it is also safe to assume that groups of people are not a collective of one mind and one thought, and thus the group will not act as one. Inside these groups, many different and sometimes conflicting ideas and interests are bound to hinder a straightforward negotiation. These internal problems creeping into the wood work before the other party has even made in to the table will ultimately create new layers in the bargaining process. This is not to say all internal negotiations are bad. In my opinion if a group will argue between them to smooth out all the potential internal interests and concerns; then it can also be sure that as a group the entire entity was come to the bargaining table with the knowledge that all of its main views have already been addressed. Then as a result the bargainer knows what as a group they would accept and decline. As it was briefly covered in the article the internal bickering within one group does have its downfalls which in the long run hinder the group more then promote it. If certain people within the group have personal agendas such as personal wealth or influence in mind, these views of the few that can go against the optimum deal for the entire group. Then as these people fight to have their views and solutions pushed forward the group may lose more in the long run. (Albeit the few people in the group may come out even stronger.) I believe the key to getting beyond the internal negotiations and out onto the bargaining table with the other party is to as a group not bicker over 1 or 2 minor things, but to look at these deals "one pie" which may have many different ingredients within it. The pie is only ready for the oven (ei. bargaining table) by the group when they have all added their own ingredients, and come to a resolution on these ingredients and the level of each. Once this is done, then it is time for external negotiations. I will use the cooking of a pie as a simile for the bargaining process to outline my views. In this way I hope to outline the reasons as they are presented in the article in my own way as I understand and agree with them. As it was rationalized in the article, external negotiations must be completely different process. Just as one doesn't add more ingredients to a pie after it's put in the oven, internal bickering within a group of what should have or shouldn't have gone into the pie has no place in the negotiations with the other party. Sure it is possible to change the ovens cooking time and even add new ideas to the pie before entering the oven, if that is what is needed to form an agreement. But as stated before, the pie represents the interests (hopefully the best interests.) of the group, and thus external negotiations should be keep out of the directions to make it. That being said, external negotiations will usually have conflicts within them due the large chance that the two party's interests are usually in conflict. One groups pie will bake in 5 minutes while the other's needs 10 minutes due to the ingredients in the pies, and thus the oven temperature will need to be addressed. This is when each group must appoint a "chef." These people should know all the ingredients within each other pies as well as why they were put in the pies in the first place. They need to be an expert in how to shape the oven so that both groups pie with be baked to their mutual satisfaction, but yet work together in hopes the "BATNA" has be reached. To do this the chefs (negotiators) must work together, they a partisans, try to find out how using the ingredients of each group will be baked into the pies without wreaking the pies or causing one of them to be burnt. One other major importance is the chefs will have to understand that some ingredients of the pies may have to be rearranged or taken out to reach an agreement. The chefs will need to share in this process, but