Assessing the Social Context - Negotiation Strategy
How Assessing the Social Context of a Negotiation Helps in Strategic Planning
Written by Jason Gordon
Updated at April 15th, 2022
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Table of Contents
How do you assess the Social Context when strategically planning a negotiation?Team and Multi-Party Negotiations Affect Social contextDiscussion QuestionHow do you assess the Social Context when strategically planning a negotiation?
A negotiator must understand the social context of the negotiation.
Negotiation occurs in a context of rules, such as customs, habits, situations, cultural norms, religious doctrine, laws, and political pressures.
Understanding the social constraints on the negotiation, particularly social pressures, is extremely important.
Back to: Negotiations & Communications
Team and Multi-Party Negotiations Affect Social context
The negotiation becomes far more complex when there are multiple parties in the negotiation.
Team negotiations involve multiple individuals representing each negotiating party.
Multiple parties often lead to the formation of factions and coalitions.
Negotiators may also have constituents whom they serve in the negotiation.
Multi-party or team negotiations is discussed in detail in subsequent material. The following sample questions may be useful in understanding the social context:
- Are there team dynamics at stake on either side of the negotiation?
- Are there any third parties of interest, such as constituents represented in the negotiation?
- Will anyone else be affected by the negotiation outcome?
- Is there a prior relationship between the parties?
- Will the relationship be affected by the outcome of the negotiation?
- What social norms, customs, or rituals apply to the negotiation?
- Are there legal or political pressures at stake?
Related Topics
- What is Strategy in Negotiation?
- How does Motivational Orientation affect strategic orientation?
- What is a strategic objective in a negotiation?
- What are some strategic objectives associated with negative outcomes?
- What is the process for developing a strategic negotiation plan?
- What is Self Assessment when strategically planning a negotiation?
- How should you proceed to Assess the Other Party when strategically planning a negotiation?
- How do you Assess the Situational Aspects when strategically planning a negotiation?
- How do you assess the Social Context when strategically planning a negotiation?
- What other factors are understood to affect strategy in a negotiation?
- Power Tactics and Strategy in a Negotiation?
- Tactics aimed at persuading a counterparty?
- Tactics to facilitate bargain within the Zone of Potential Agreement?
- Dealing with Distributive Negotiation Tactics?
- Integrative negotiation tactics?
Discussion Question
Do you agree that the social context of a negotiation is important to understand? Can you give an example of how social context can affect a negotiation? Which aspect included in social context do you find most important?