Complex Negotiations

Catalog description

The purpose of this course is to understand the theory and practice of negotiation in a variety of settings, with specific emphasis on multiparty contexts. A basic premise of the course is that while a manager needs analytical skills to discover optimal solutions to problems, a broad array of negotiation skills and an understanding of multiparty dynamics are needed in order for these solutions to be accepted and implemented. The course will allow students to develop these skills experientially and to understand negotiation in useful analytical frameworks. This course will give students an overview of the unique challenges and intricacies associated with multiparty negotiation, providing an opportunity to understand and develop applied skills regarding (a) the formulation of strategy and tactics before, during, and after a negotiation, and (b) third-party intervention in multiparty negotiation. Students will learn the structural and social characteristics of multiparty negotiation and develop techniques for managing its complexity.