Book Summary: 'Getting to Yes' by Fisher and Ury

Gina Blair and Daniel Trent cooperate and collaborate to achieve a common objective throughout their negotiation. A cooperative negotiation style is demonstrated as they combine their points of view regarding their clients concerns with outcomes to effectively solve the issues raised. The main focus of the negotiation is to reach an agreement rather than a continuous dispute. Accordingly, the conflicting objectives were resolved by compromises and solutions but forward by both Gina and Daniel. The negotiation style used between Gina and Daniel is described as principled negotiation where both parties jointly attack the problems arising to achieve a compromise.

Negotiation is a fundamental form of dispute resolution involving two or more parties (Michelle, M.2003). Negotiations can also take place in order to avoid any future disputes. It can be either an interpersonal or inter-group process. Negotiations can occur at international or corporate level and also at a personal level. Negotiations often involve give and take acknowledging that there is interdependence between the disputants to some extent to achieve the goal. This means that negotiations only arise when the goals cannot be achieved independently (Lewicki and Saunders et al., 1997). Interdependence means the both parties can influence the outcome for the other party and vice versa. The negotiations can be win-lose or win-win in nature.

In this course, I have learned that it is possible to dramatically improve my ability to negotiate. I can improve my monetary returns and feel better about myself and the people with whom I deal. I also learned that there are several ways to test my intuition and approach. The course provided me with an opportunity to assess my “instinctive” bargaining style and provides suggestions for how to further develop my bargaining abilities. The negotiation exercises were a good way to cement several of the concepts from the book and lecture and gave me several opportunities to get to know my classmate more and test some new insights with them.

“Successful negotiation is not about getting to ‘yes’; it’s about mastering ‘no’ and understanding the path to an agreement is” (Christopher Voss). During the negotiation process, there are a lot of moving parts and personalities. In addition, hurt feelings can all too often get in the way. The bottom line of any negotiation is to reach a settlement that will mutually benefit both parties. It’s a challenging situation by which compromise or agreement is reached while attempting to avoid arguments and disputes.

Negotiations are something that everyone experiences and does at some level. Even if informal, people negotiate and barter using what they have to offer to get what they want all of the time. However, there are times in life where the negotiations are much more serious and the stakes a lot higher. Whether official or unofficial, there are negotiation tactics and conditions that should be watched out for because they are a sign of potential problems.

Fisher, R & Ury, W. (1983). Getting to yes: negotiating agreement without giving in. New York:

Negotiation is one important part of both the professional and personal life in our everyday situations. It is critical for people to resolve disputes, distribute limited resources, and/or create something new that neither party could achieve on his or her own. Negotiations can range from coordinating project timelines with clients to asking for a raise to discussing holiday plans with family members.

The article Sharks, Saints, and Samurai: The Power of Ethics in Negotiations, gives three techniques of negotiation. The first being the “sharks” who are very tactical and want to win every negotiation. The second are the “saints” who believe in building a relationship with their opponents and base their tactics on ethical standards, which in the end ensure fairness. The third is the “samurai” who negotiate with the principle, “of doing the right thing for its own sake without regard to consequences” (Young, 2008, p. 149). There are several avenues to negotiate but everyone should do the right thing at all times no matter what the result.

Getting to YES, Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In is an excellent book that discusses the best methods of negotiation. The book is divided into three sections that include defining the problem, the method to solve it, and possible scenarios that may arise when using these methods. Each section is broken down into a series of chapters that is simple to navigate and outlines each of the ideas in a way that is easy for any reader to comprehend. There are also several real life explanations for each issue that make the concepts easier to apply and understand. These ideas are reflective of a method developed by the Harvard Negotiation Project called “principled negotiation”. This method combines the two ideas of soft and hard negotiation

Whether or not we are aware of it, each of us is faced with an abundance of conflict each and every day. From the division of chores within a household, to asking one's boss for a raise, we've all learned the basic skills of negotiation. A national bestseller, Getting to Yes, introduces the method of principled negotiation, a form of alternative dispute resolutions as opposed to the common method of positional bargaining. Within the book, four basic elements of principled negotiation are stressed; separate the people from the problem, focus on interests instead of positions, invest options for mutual gain, and insist on using objective criteria. Following this section of the book are suggestions for problems that may occur and finally a

Whether it is at work, church or in our private relationships, negotiations are a necessary tool for reaching an agreement. They are made by discussing each parties point of view with the aim being to reach an agreement that is mutually beneficial. For the most part, negotiation is the process by which those people involved successfully adopt or abandon their respective position through the use of positional bargaining. There are different types of approaches for the negotiation process - some hard and others soft in their manner of approach. The desired outcome of

“Getting To Yes” is an excellent book that is very easy to read. Every chapter has some excellent points that can always help negotiate an agreement without giving in completely. I am a manager of a directional drilling company in Midland. I have 39 employees that are under me. By reading this book it has given me plenty of tools to talk to my guys in situations where both of us need to compromise to get what we want.

"YES" is the most powerful word in the English language. Even though it is the most powerful word, that doesn 't always mean it is the answer. Finding the answer to any question, conflict, argument etc. requires negotiating. To negotiate means to confer with another or others in order to come to terms or reach an agreement. The basic idea of it seems pretty simple, and in fact negotiating is something the majority of us do on a daily basis either at work, at home, anywhere. In the text "Getting To Yes" by Roger Fisher and William Ury, they describe their four principles for effective negotiation. They also discuss three common obstacles to negotiation and how to overcome them.

After reading the book Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher and William Ury, Getting past No is like a sequel, where the author tries to address the basic concern that each one of us faces while negotiating, the problem of other side being stubborn on a “NO” and not ready to negotiate when we are trying to adopt a principled negotiation approach.

Negotiation is all about a strategy. The end result is usually to end a problem that someone is having, whether it is personally or