Using objective criteria to negotiate better agreements
Often, in negotiations, people get bogged down in positional bargaining, butting heads and wills in a way that frays nerves, destroys relationships and may not ultimately get anyone what they truly want. One way around the perils of positional bargaining (and there are a variety of ways) is to turn the discussion into a rational […]
Continue ReadingShould mediators be subject matter experts?
“This article originally appeared in the Mar 31, 2006, issue of The Lawyers Weekly published by LexisNexis Canada Inc. How important is it that a mediator really understand the issue being mediated? Some mediators believe that it is not necessary for the mediator to have any expertise in the substantive area. In their view, the […]
Continue ReadingCross Cultural Negotiations
In cross-cultural negotiations, above and beyond the issues of personal negotiation styles and techniques, one must consider the impact of cultural difference. This impact will often be tied to communication issues, increasing the possibilities of misunderstanding. Things that are said, left unsaid, or unclearly said can all create an extra layer of difficulty on top […]
Continue ReadingDispute resolution a challenge to Bahamians, says PM Christie
Press Release © 2005 The Official Website of The Government of the Bahamas. NASSAU, The Bahamas – Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie, Friday addressing the closing session of the five-day Alternative Dispute Resolution Certificate Workshop at the School of Hospitality and Tourism Studies, The College of The Bahamas on May 28. Participants in […]
Continue ReadingUse of Alternative Dispute Resolution for marketing board decision making
INTRODUCTION and BACKGROUND Marketing boards and their counterpart in the U.S.A., co-operative associations, are constantly subject to political review, administrative tinkering, litigation, and challenge. Their existence confronts many assumptions that are made unconsciously in a society that values private enterprise and private ordering. The way marketing boards make decisions on terms and conditions of commodity […]
Continue ReadingSolving workplace conflict starts with self-awareness
Getting to the root of problems means understanding everyone’s strengths and weaknesses, including one’s own Originally published in: Canadian HR Reporter November 8, 2004 Dealing with office conflict is one of those management tasks with high risks, low rewards and seemingly no end in sight. Negative patterns can develop despite a manager’s best efforts. Standard […]
Continue ReadingSimulations: The next generation of online learning for negotiation
Negotiation is often overlooked in professional training because people think that since they’ve been negotiating every day of their lives, they have become good at it. We write notes every day yet if we look at our current handwriting, few of us would say that it has improved over the years. Negotiation is both an […]
Continue ReadingFinding an easier way to settle disputes
by Carmel Haynes The legal fraternity in Barbados is being encouraged to look for a less litigious way of settling legal disputes. Through a four-day workshop on alternative dispute resolution, members of the judiciary and local Bar Association are being sensitised to the integration of mediation into the civil justice system. Natalie Johnson, acting programme […]
Continue ReadingNot all conflict bad
The Barbados Advocate Visiting Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) systems design specialist Allan Stitt showed local departmental heads yesterday, that while some persons view conflict in a negative light, there are actually quite a few benefits that can be identified. These observations were made when participants from various governmental organizations, got a first hand look at […]
Continue ReadingFeedback versus criticism
To optimize the performance of the team, a manager has to let the team members know what is expected of them. The broad guidelines given at the beginning of an assignment may not be enough to ensure a smooth flow. By providing periodic assessments and timely feedback to team members there is a greater likelihood […]
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