Negotiation Terms

Fishbone Diagram

fishbone-diagram
The Fishbone Diagram is a diagram-based technique used in brainstorming to identify potential causes for a problem, thus it is a visual representation of cause and effect. The problem or effect serves as the head of the fish. Possible causes of the problem are listed on the individual “bones” of the fish. This encourages problem-solving teams to consider a wide range of alternatives.

BATNA

batna
In negotiation theory, BATNA stands for “Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement,” and it’s one of the key tenets of negotiation theory. Indeed, it describes the best course of action a party can take if negotiations fail to reach an agreement. This simple strategy can help improve the negotiation as each party is (in theory) willing to take the best course of action, as otherwise, an agreement won’t be reached.

WATNA

watna
In negotiation, WATNA stands for “worst alternative to a negotiated agreement,” representing one of several alternative options if a resolution cannot be reached. This is a useful technique to help understand what might be a negotiation outcome, that even if negative is still better than a WATNA, making the deal still feasible.

ZOPA

zopa
The ZOPA (zone of possible agreement) describes an area in which two negotiation parties may find common ground. Indeed, ZOPA is critical to exploring the deals where the parties get a mutually beneficial outcome to prevent the risk of a win-lose, or lose-win scenario. And therefore get to the point of a win-win negotiation outcome.

Logrolling Negotiation

logrolling-negotiation
In a logrolling negotiation, one party offers a concession on one issue to gain ground on another issue. In logrolling, there is no desire by either party to advertise the extent of their power, rights, or entitlements. This makes it a particularly effective strategy in complex negotiations where partial or complete impasses exist.

Theory of Constraints

theory-of-constraints
The Theory of Constraints was developed in 1984 by business management guru Eliyahu Goldratt in his book The Goal. The Theory of Constraints argues that every system has at least one constraint that hinders high-level performance or profit generation. Fundamentally, the theory advocates identifying constraints and then eliminating them or at the very least, reducing their impact.

Related ConceptsDescriptionWhen to Apply
Logrolling NegotiationLogrolling Negotiation is a bargaining strategy in which parties involved in a negotiation exchange concessions on multiple issues to maximize mutual gains and reach a satisfactory agreement. Instead of focusing solely on individual interests or positions, logrolling involves identifying and prioritizing issues where each party has different preferences or priorities, allowing them to trade concessions strategically. By engaging in logrolling, negotiators can create value, overcome impasses, and build trust by demonstrating flexibility and willingness to accommodate each other’s needs. Logrolling negotiation is particularly effective in complex, multi-issue negotiations where there are opportunities for trade-offs and creative problem-solving to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.– When negotiating agreements or settlements involving multiple issues or parties with diverse interests.
Bargaining StrategiesBargaining Strategies encompass a range of approaches and tactics used by negotiators to achieve their objectives and secure favorable outcomes in negotiations. They include logrolling, compromise, concession-making, coalition-building, threats, promises, and information manipulation, among others. Each bargaining strategy has its advantages and drawbacks, and negotiators may employ a combination of strategies depending on the context, goals, and dynamics of the negotiation. Effective bargaining strategies involve understanding the interests, priorities, and power dynamics of all parties involved and adopting tactics that maximize value creation, minimize concessions, and maintain positive relationships throughout the negotiation process.– When preparing for negotiations and developing a strategic approach to achieve desired outcomes.
Win-Win NegotiationWin-Win Negotiation is an approach to negotiation that aims to create value and secure mutually beneficial outcomes for all parties involved. Unlike traditional zero-sum or win-lose negotiations, where one party’s gain comes at the expense of another, win-win negotiation focuses on finding solutions that satisfy the interests and objectives of all parties. It involves collaborative problem-solving, active listening, creative brainstorming, and flexible thinking to identify shared interests, explore trade-offs, and generate options that meet everyone’s needs. Win-win negotiation fosters trust, cooperation, and long-term relationships by emphasizing empathy, fairness, and a commitment to finding solutions that maximize joint gains while respecting each party’s dignity and autonomy.– When seeking to build positive relationships, preserve long-term partnerships, or resolve conflicts constructively.
Multi-Issue NegotiationsMulti-Issue Negotiations involve bargaining over multiple issues or dimensions simultaneously to achieve comprehensive and balanced agreements. These negotiations often occur in complex situations where parties have diverse interests, priorities, and preferences across different issues. Multi-issue negotiations require negotiators to engage in logrolling, bundling, package deals, and issue linking to identify synergies, trade-offs, and creative solutions that address everyone’s concerns effectively. By managing multiple issues strategically, negotiators can create value, overcome obstacles, and reach agreements that are mutually acceptable and sustainable over time. Multi-issue negotiations require careful preparation, effective communication, and flexibility to navigate the complexity and dynamics of the negotiation process successfully.– When negotiating deals, contracts, or agreements involving multiple components, such as pricing, terms, delivery, and performance.
Principled NegotiationPrincipled Negotiation, also known as Interest-Based Negotiation or Negotiation Without Giving In, is an approach to negotiation developed by Roger Fisher and William Ury in their book “Getting to Yes.” It emphasizes focusing on interests rather than positions, exploring options for mutual gain, and using objective criteria to evaluate proposals. Principled negotiation encourages parties to separate people from the problem, communicate effectively, generate multiple options for mutual gain, and insist on objective standards of fairness and legitimacy. By adopting principled negotiation, parties can overcome positional bargaining, reduce conflicts, and reach agreements that meet their underlying interests and objectives while preserving relationships and enhancing long-term cooperation.– When seeking to resolve disputes, reach agreements, or negotiate deals in a collaborative and principled manner.
Distributive BargainingDistributive Bargaining, also known as Win-Lose Negotiation or Zero-Sum Negotiation, is a competitive negotiation approach where parties compete over the distribution of a fixed amount of value or resources. In distributive bargaining, each party’s gain is directly offset by the other party’s loss, leading to a win-lose outcome. Negotiators often employ tactics such as position-based bargaining, anchoring, bluffing, and aggressive tactics to maximize their share of the pie and exploit the other party’s weaknesses. While distributive bargaining can be effective in simple, one-shot negotiations with limited issues, it may lead to suboptimal outcomes and damage relationships in more complex or ongoing negotiations.– When negotiating transactions or agreements where there is a fixed amount of value to be divided, and parties have conflicting interests.
Collaborative NegotiationCollaborative Negotiation is an approach to negotiation that emphasizes cooperation, trust, and joint problem-solving to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. Unlike competitive or adversarial approaches, collaborative negotiation focuses on building rapport, understanding each party’s interests and priorities, and searching for creative solutions that meet everyone’s needs. It involves active listening, open communication, empathy, and a willingness to explore trade-offs and concessions to reach consensus. Collaborative negotiation fosters positive relationships, enhances understanding, and creates value by leveraging the collective intelligence and creativity of all parties involved.– When negotiating with parties who value long-term relationships, seek win-win outcomes, or have shared interests and objectives.
Conflict ResolutionConflict Resolution is the process of addressing and resolving disputes, disagreements, or conflicts between parties in a constructive and mutually acceptable manner. It involves identifying the underlying causes of conflict, facilitating communication, and finding solutions that address the interests and needs of all parties involved. Conflict resolution may occur through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, or other collaborative processes designed to de-escalate tensions, build trust, and restore positive relationships. Effective conflict resolution requires patience, empathy, active listening, and a commitment to finding common ground and shared solutions.– When parties are at odds, experiencing tension, or facing disagreements that hinder progress or collaboration.
Power DynamicsPower Dynamics refers to the distribution of influence, authority, and control among parties in a negotiation or relationship. Power can manifest in various forms, including informational power, coercive power, reward power, expert power, and referent power, and may be asymmetrical between parties. Understanding power dynamics is essential in negotiation to anticipate behaviors, leverage strengths, and mitigate weaknesses effectively. Negotiators may adjust their strategies, tactics, and approaches based on their assessment of power dynamics to maximize their bargaining leverage and achieve favorable outcomes.– When analyzing the balance of power, assessing strengths and weaknesses, and developing negotiation strategies and tactics.
Negotiation TacticsNegotiation Tactics are specific techniques or maneuvers used by negotiators to influence, persuade, or manipulate the behavior or perceptions of other parties in a negotiation. They include informational tactics, emotional tactics, behavioral tactics, communication tactics, and psychological tactics, among others. Negotiation tactics may be employed strategically to achieve desired outcomes, gain concessions, or shape the negotiation process in one’s favor. Effective negotiators understand various tactics, their implications, and when to use them judiciously to advance their interests and objectives while preserving relationships and goodwill.– When engaging in negotiations and seeking to influence or control the negotiation process, dynamics, or outcomes.

Connected Business Concepts

Fishbone Diagram

fishbone-diagram
The Fishbone Diagram is a diagram-based technique used in brainstorming to identify potential causes for a problem, thus it is a visual representation of cause and effect. The problem or effect serves as the head of the fish. Possible causes of the problem are listed on the individual “bones” of the fish. This encourages problem-solving teams to consider a wide range of alternatives.

BATNA

batna
In negotiation theory, BATNA stands for “Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement,” and it’s one of the key tenets of negotiation theory. Indeed, it describes the best course of action a party can take if negotiations fail to reach an agreement. This simple strategy can help improve the negotiation as each party is (in theory) willing to take the best course of action, as otherwise, an agreement won’t be reached.

WATNA

watna
In negotiation, WATNA stands for “worst alternative to a negotiated agreement,” representing one of several alternative options if a resolution cannot be reached. This is a useful technique to help understand what might be a negotiation outcome, that even if negative is still better than a WATNA, making the deal still feasible.

ZOPA

zopa
The ZOPA (zone of possible agreement) describes an area in which two negotiation parties may find common ground. Indeed, ZOPA is critical to exploring the deals where the parties get a mutually beneficial outcome to prevent the risk of a win-lose, or lose-win scenario. And therefore get to the point of a win-win negotiation outcome.

Logrolling Negotiation

logrolling-negotiation
In a logrolling negotiation, one party offers a concession on one issue to gain ground on another issue. In logrolling, there is no desire by either party to advertise the extent of their power, rights, or entitlements. This makes it a particularly effective strategy in complex negotiations where partial or complete impasses exist.

Theory of Constraints

theory-of-constraints
The Theory of Constraints was developed in 1984 by business management guru Eliyahu Goldratt in his book The Goal. The Theory of Constraints argues that every system has at least one constraint that hinders high-level performance or profit generation. Fundamentally, the theory advocates identifying constraints and then eliminating them or at the very least, reducing their impact.

Win-Win Negotiation

win-win-negotiation
Win-win negotiations first rose to prominence during the 1980s, thanks in part to books like Roger Fisher, William Ury, and Bruce Patton’s bestseller Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In. Having said that, there was also a shifting mindset at the time as negotiators saw win-win negotiations as preferable to the then-dominant win-lose approach. A win-win negotiation is a negotiation outcome resulting in a mutually acceptable and beneficial deal for all involved parties.

RADPAC Model

radpac-model
A negotiation where one or both parties are unprepared can be disastrous. At best, the negotiation devolves into a loose and unfocused conversation. In the worst-case scenario, however, a negotiation can turn into an adversarial confrontation. The RADPAC model is a basic negotiation framework used in business to reach a favorable outcome for two or more parties.

Read Next: Negotiation, BATNA, WATNA, ZOPA.

Read Next: SWOT AnalysisPersonal SWOT AnalysisTOWS MatrixPESTEL AnalysisPorter’s Five ForcesTOWS MatrixSOAR Analysis.

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