One of the most common approaches used to make decisions and manage disputes is negotiation. It is also the major building block for many other alternative dispute resolution procedures.
Negotiation occurs between spouses, managers and staff, employers and employees, professionals and clients, within and between organizations and between agencies and the public. Negotiation is a problem-solving process in which two or more people voluntarily discuss their differences and attempt to reach a joint decision on their common concerns. Negotiation requires participants to identify issues about which they differ, educate each other about their needs and interests, generate possible settlement options and bargain over the terms of the final agreement. (more…)