Critical Review Negotiations
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Analysis of Online Negotiation: Mixed Motives and the DNA of Negotiation
by Yashvi Patel
Student ID 20449285
11.06.2023
Analysis of Online Negotiation: Mixed Motives and the DNA of Negotiation
Introduction
The act of negotiation is a fundamental component of human interaction,
encompassing a multifaceted interplay of motivations, behaviours, and strategies (Caputo, et
al., 2019). This critical analysis aims to examine an online negotiation that took place
between the management team of Premier Bank Pty Ltd and Members Benefit Union (MBU)
concerning three distinct matters. The main objective of this study is to detect the existence of
"mixed motives" and assess the degree of concurrence between the negotiation strategies
employed and the components of Fells' "DNA of negotiation" (Fells & Sheer2020).
Furthermore, an evaluation will be conducted to determine whether the incentives of each
participant resulted in distributive or integrative bargaining actions.
Issue 1: Rosters
The notion of mixed motives was apparent for both parties during the negotiation of
roster arrangements. The management team endeavoured to enhance workforce efficiency
while reducing labour expenses, whereas MBU prioritised safeguarding employee welfare
and promoting a healthy work-life equilibrium. The existence of a fundamental conflict
between the optimisation of productivity and the well-being of employees has resulted in a
highly competitive negotiation atmosphere.
The concept of reciprocity inherent in the negotiation process exerted a substantial
influence on the incentives of the involved parties. The management team endeavoured to
obtain concessions from MBU by proposing extended working hours and shortened break
times in return for a higher allotment of annual leave. On the other hand, MBU advocated for
enhanced labour conditions and upheld a firm position in safeguarding the welfare of its
workforce. Upon analysing the discourse regarding Premier Bank Management's response in
Message 7 Options, it becomes apparent that the organization's inclination towards
advocating for an increase in the number of working days to five was put forth, while
simultaneously displaying a firm opposition towards the Members Benefit Union.
The management team's authority over decision-making and resource allocation
created power dynamics within the organisation. The existing power asymmetry had a
significant impact on the incentives of both entities, as the management team utilised their
superior position to extract concessions from MBU. Nevertheless, the ability of MBU to
resist unfavourable terms was facilitated by their collective bargaining power and solidarity.
As an illustration, directing focus towards the Members Benefit Union: Proposal.
Unfortunately, there is no message provided to rewrite. Please provide the message you
would like me to rewrite. The proposed option put forth by the union entails a full-time
employment arrangement consisting of five shifts per week. The proposed work schedule
consists of four workdays per week, each lasting eight hours, and one additional day with a
six-hour duration. The implementation of a 6-hour workday on a weekly rotational roster
basis, accompanied by a 45-minute break, would provide a convenient and equitable
arrangement for all employees. Nonetheless, the intense competition and power dynamics are
once again challenged by the proposal of a 30-minute break.
Effective communication played a pivotal role in addressing this matter, as it was
imperative for both parties to comprehend each other's apprehensions and preferences. The
negotiation process was facilitated by effective communication, although the motivations of
each party may have been affected by certain information asymmetries. The management
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team's possession of more comprehensive financial information may have facilitated their
advocacy for cost-saving measures.
The roster negotiation was primarily characterised by distributive bargaining, as both
parties were motivated by divergent interests and aimed to optimise their individual benefits
while compromising the other party's position. As an illustration, the utilisation of managerial
resources by MBU, as emphasised in the section on the Management team: The message
conveyed in Response, Message 9 Options, suggests that MBU yielded to the demands of
MBU, who advocated for a 45-minute break instead of the management's proposed 30-minute
break.
Issue 2: Annual Leave
The issue of mixed motives was comparatively less conspicuous in the negotiation of
annual leave as opposed to the roster matter. The significance of employee well-being was
acknowledged by both the management team and MBU, who endeavoured to establish
equitable equilibrium between work and personal life. This facilitated a more collaborative
negotiating atmosphere. According to Gates, (2022), the welfare of employees has emerged
as a crucial subject in relation to their efficiency and effectiveness in the workplace.
Reciprocity exerted a substantial influence in shaping the incentives of both entities
involved. The management team recognised the significance of employee contentment and
suggested the provision of supplementary time off in proportion to the amount of overtime
worked. In contrast, MBU aimed to guarantee that its workforce was provided with an
adequate amount of time for relaxation and revitalisation. The proposal put forth by the
management team in Message 5, specifically under the section titled "Management Team:
Proposal," outlines their intention to provide additional annual leave time to employees as a
means of promoting their overall well-being.
Trust played a pivotal role in shaping the incentives to both request and consent to the
terms of this negotiation. As previously stated by Kalogiannidis, (2021), trust plays a crucial
role in achieving a successful outcome in any negotiation. Both parties exhibited trust by
engaging in transparent discussions regarding their apprehensions and presenting resolutions
that catered to the requirements of all parties involved. The implementation of this exercise
aimed to cultivate a collaborative mindset towards negotiation by establishing trust among
the parties involved.
The issue at hand exhibited a reduced degree of power dynamics, albeit still present,
as the emphasis transitioned towards the identification of outcomes that were mutually
advantageous. As per the scholarly work of Beals, et al., (2020), Fells' "DNA of negotiation"
elucidates the concept of power as a driving force behind negotiations. The significance of
employee well-being was acknowledged by the management team, who also identified the
possibility of enhanced productivity as a result of having motivated and well-rested
employees. MBU remained steadfast in their position to safeguard the rights and well-being
of their employees. As proposed in the document titled "Proposal for Union Member
Benefits." The available choices for Message 6. MBU responded to the Fair Work
Ombudsman's guidelines, deeming any amount of annual leave exceeding 8 weeks as
"excessive."
The exchange of information has been deemed pivotal in the establishment of
transparency and equity (Ott, et al., 2016). Both parties exchanged information pertaining to
employee leave entitlements, work demands, and employee preferences. This facilitated the
exploration of alternatives that satisfied the requirements of the personnel while being
consistent with the objectives of the enterprise.
The motivations of the parties involved in the negotiation of annual leave were
primarily oriented towards integrative bargaining. The parties acknowledged the reciprocal
advantages of attaining a resolution that equitably addressed the welfare of the employees
and the productivity of the organisation, resulting in a collaborative endeavour to achieve a
mutually acceptable accord.
Issue 3: Work-from-Home (WFH)
The concept of mixed motives was brought to the forefront during the negotiation of
work-from-home arrangements. The management team's objective was to sustain operational
efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and the capacity to effectively oversee and monitor employees.
In contrast, MBU placed emphasis on providing its employees with flexibility, promoting a
balance between work and personal life, and making accommodations for unique
circumstances. However, the operational dynamics of a banking environment and the
necessity for a physical workspace were influential factors in motivating certain decisions.
Reciprocity played a crucial role in shaping the motivations of both parties involved.
The management team has put forth a set of eligibility standards for remote work, which are
contingent upon the duration of one's employment. This measure is aimed at ensuring that
seasoned employees are able to take advantage of this arrangement. As an illustration, the
proposal pertaining to Provision 3 concerns the management team. In Message 19's Options
Menu, the eligibility criteria that will be utilised in the aforementioned process were
emphasised. MBU highlighted the significance of unambiguous protocols and adequate
training to guarantee the proficient execution of duties by remote staff.
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The issue at hand was significantly influenced by power dynamics, as the
management team possessed the authority to grant or reject requests for remote work. The
concept of power continues to be a prominent topic of discussion that challenges the limits of
the negotiation process (Fells, and Sheer, 2019). The individuals in question exercised their
authority to establish standards and prerequisites for telecommuting, whereas MBU leveraged
their combined influence to champion the interests and choices of staff members.
The establishment of trust played a crucial role in shaping the underlying motivations
that drove the demand for and ultimate agreement in this negotiation. The establishment's
management team was required to place confidence in the employees' ability to execute their
duties while operating remotely, and the MBU was required to have faith in the company's
capacity to offer essential assistance and preserve the privacy of its employees. The
establishment of open and transparent communication facilitated the development of trust
among the involved parties.
Effective communication played a pivotal role in the negotiation process, as it was
imperative for both parties to gain a comprehensive understanding of the advantages and
obstacles associated with telecommuting (Szkudlarek et al. 2020). The management team
presented information pertaining to productivity, communication tools, and security
measures, whereas MBU emphasised the significance of employee welfare and the possibility
of heightened job contentment. Consequently, MBU was compelled to endorse the hybrid
work-from-home model, provided that employees maintained their productivity levels, as
emphasised in the Proposal of Provision 3: Management Team. The 19th message presents an
options menu.
The negotiation pertaining to remote work arrangements demonstrated the presence of
distributive and integrative bargaining elements in the motivations of both parties. The
management team prioritised operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness, which was
consistent with the principles of distributive bargaining. Nonetheless, the authors
acknowledged the advantages of offering adaptable work schedules and catering to the
demands of staff members, which is indicative of an integrative bargaining approach. The
organisation MBU prioritised the welfare of its employees and the balance between work and
personal life, thereby exhibiting a collaborative stance.
Conclusion
The examination of online negotiation through a critical lens reveals the coexistence of
divergent incentives in three discrete domains: staffing, vacation time, and remote work
agreements. The behaviours of the parties involved were shaped significantly by Fells' "DNA
of negotiation," which had a notable influence on their motives. The underlying factors that
shaped the parties' motivations were impacted by the fundamental elements of Fells'
negotiation DNA, which included key aspects such as reciprocity, trust, power dynamics, and
information exchange.
The process of negotiating the roster demonstrated a predominant preference for distributive
bargaining, wherein the competing concerns of labour efficiency and staff well-being were
the central topics of discourse and consideration. The annual leave negotiation displayed
elements of both distributive and integrative bargaining, as the parties involved recognised
the importance of employee well-being and sought to attain mutually beneficial outcomes by
agreeing to an augmentation in annual leave. In addition, the governing body has enforced a
regulation mandating that staff members be apprised of the need to utilise a minimum of one
week of their yearly vacation allowance upon attaining the compulsory six-week annual
vacation threshold. The discussions surrounding remote work arrangements exhibited a
combination of distributive and integrative bargaining tactics, as the management team
emphasised operational efficiency while acknowledging the benefits of accommodating
employee flexibility.
Overall, the virtual negotiation demonstrated a seamless interplay between incentives,
actions, and tactics. The negotiation process was influenced by several factors, such as the
personal interests of the parties, power dynamics, trust-building, and information sharing.
While distributive bargaining was identified in specific instances, the parties involved also
demonstrated a cooperative approach in achieving outcomes that fairly addressed both the
objectives of the organisation and the well-being of its staff. By utilising mixed motives and
negotiation frameworks based on DNA, a deeper understanding of the complex process of
achieving mutually beneficial settlements can be attained.
.
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References
Fells, R. and Sheer, N., 2019.
Effective negotiation: From research to results
. Cambridge
University Press.
Beals, F., Kidman, J. and Funaki, H., 2020. Insider and outsider research: Negotiating self at
the edge of the emic/etic divide.
Qualitative Inquiry
,
26
(6), pp.593-601.
Szkudlarek, B., Osland, J.S., Nardon, L. and Zander, L., 2020. Communication and culture in
international business–Moving the field forward.
Journal of World Business
,
55
(6), p.101126.
Kalogiannidis, S., 2021. Business Trust and Communication as Predictors of Business
Growth.
WSEAS Transactions on Business and Economics
,
18
, pp.1512-1522.
Gates, S., 2022.
The negotiation book: Your definitive guide to successful negotiating
. John
Wiley & Sons.
Caputo, A., Ayoko, O.B., Amoo, N. and Menke, C., 2019. The relationship between cultural
values, cultural intelligence and negotiation styles.
Journal of Business Research
,
99
, pp.23-
36.
Ott, U.F., Prowse, P., Fells, R. and Rogers, H., 2016. The DNA of negotiations as a set
theoretic concept: a theoretical and empirical analysis.
Journal of Business Research
,
69
(9),
pp.3561-3571.
Fells, R and Sheer, N 2020, Effective negotiation: from research to results, 4th edn,
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
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