Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
TWO
Strategy and Tactics of
Distributive Bargaining
Three Reasons Negotiators Should Be
Familiar with Distributive Bargaining
1. Independent situations require knowing how this works in
order to do well
2. Need to know how to counter the effects of the strategies
3. Every situation has the potential to require skills at the
“claiming-value” stage
2-2
The Distributive Bargaining Situation
Goals of one party are in fundamental,direct conflict to
another party
Resources are fixed and limited
Maximizing one’s own share of resources is the goal for both
parties
2-3
The Distributive Bargaining Situation
Preparation—set a
Target point, aspiration point
Walkaway, resistance point
Asking price, initial offer
2-4
The Distributive Bargaining
Situation
Party A - Seller
Party B - Buyer
2-5
The Role of Alternatives to a
Negotiated Agreement
Alternatives give the negotiator power to walk away from the
negotiation
If alternatives are attractive, negotiators can:
Set
their goals higher
Make fewer concessions
If there are no attractive alternatives:
Negotiators have much less bargaining power
2-6
The Distributive Bargaining
Situation
Party A - Seller
Alternative
Initial Offer Target Point Walkaway Point
Party B - Buyer
2-7
Fundamental Strategies
Push for settlement near opponent’s resistance point
Get the other party to change their resistance point
If settlement range is negative, either:
Get the other side to change their resistance point
Modify your own resistance point
Convince the other party that the settlement is the best
possible
2-8
Keys to the Strategies
The keys to implementing any of the four strategies are:
Discovering the other party’s resistance point
Influencing the other party’s resistance point
2-9
Four Propositions That Suggest
How the Keys Affect the Process
2-10
Four Propositions That Suggest
How the Keys Affect the Process
3. The less the other party values an issue, the lower their
resistance point will be.
4. The more the other party believes that you value an issue,
the lower their resistance point may be.
2-11
Tactical Tasks of Negotiators
Assess outcome values and the costs of
termination for the other party
Manage the other party’s impressions
Modify the other party’s perceptions
Manipulate the actual costs of delay or
termination
2-12
Assess the Other Party’s Target, Resistance
Point, and Costs of Terminating Negotiations
Indirectly
Determine information opponent used to set:
Target
Resistance points
Directly
Opponent reveals the information
2-13
Manage the Other Party’s Impressions
Screen your behavior:
Say and do as little as possible
2-14
Modify the Other Party’s Perceptions
Make outcomes appear less attractive
Make the cost of obtaining goals appear higher
Make demands and positions appear more or less attractive to
the other party – whichever suits your needs
2-15
Manipulate the Actual Costs of
Delay or Termination
Plan disruptive action
Raise the costs of delay to the other party
Form an alliance with outsiders
Involve (or threaten to involve) other parties who can
influence the outcome in your favor
Schedule manipulations
One party is usually more vulnerable to delaying
than the other
2-16
Positions Taken During
Negotiations
Opening offer
Where will you start?
Opening stance
What is your attitude?
Competitive? Moderate?
Initial concessions
Should any be made? If so, how large?
2-17
Positions Taken During
Negotiations
The role of concessions
Without them, there is either capitulation or deadlock
Patterns of concession making
The pattern contains valuable information
Final offers (making a commitment)
“This is all I can do”
2-18
Commitments: Tactical
Considerations
Establishing a commitment
Three properties:
Finality
Specificity
Consequences
2-19
Ways to Create a Commitment
Public pronouncement
Linking with an outside base
Increase the prominence of demands
Reinforce the threat or promise
2-20
Commitments: Tactical
Considerations
Ways to abandon a committed position
Plan a way out
Let it die silently
Restate the commitment in more general terms
Minimize the damage to the relationship if the other backs off
2-21
Closing the Deal
Provide alternatives (2 or 3 packages)
Assume the close
Split the difference
Exploding offers
Deal sweeteners
2-22
Dealing with Typical Hardball
Tactics
Four main options:
Ignorethem
Discuss them
Respond in kind
Co-opt the other party (befriend them)
2-23
Typical Hardball Tactics
Good Cop/Bad Cop
Lowball/Highball
Bogey (playing up an issue of little importance)
The Nibble (asking for a number of small concessions
to)
2-24
Typical Hardball Tactics
Chicken
Intimidation
Aggressive Behavior
Snow Job (overwhelm the other party with information)
2-25
Summary
Negotiators need to:
Set a clear target and resistance points
Understand and work to improve their BATNA
Start with good opening offer
Make appropriate concessions
Manage the commitment process
2-26