It's a Saturday and yet I have to attend class with Ms Linda Riebe at 3.30 pm. Ms Linda explained more on the upcoming test which is tomorrow. Ms Linda reminded us to applied the six steps of negotiation strategies for the test. She gave us 2 case study on the negotiation and made us practice to be more confident for the test. She assigned the whole class to be in groups of five. Thus, I'm lucky to have Asedah in my group followed by Louis, Joycelyn as well as Tracy, we cooperate and communicate well with each other. However, Ms Linda asked us to assigned a team leader to go around to the other groups to explained on the 'effective negotiation strategies', nevertheless we appointed Joycelyn to be our team leader. Ms Linda assigned our group to explain on 'Focus on interests, not positions' by using our own words. This pharse means, 'Positions' are demands the negotiator makes. 'Interests' constitute the reason behind the demands. Experience shows that it is easier to establish agreement on interests, because they tend to be broader and multifaceted. This step involves redefining and broadening problems to make them more tractable. When a variety of issues is examined, parties are better able to understand each other's point of view and place their own views in perspective. A characteristic integrative statement is: 'Help me understand why you advocate that position'.



After break we were assigned into group of three to do a role play on the following negotiation cases. I was assigned to practice 2 cases of negotiation, the first negotiation senario I have acted with flyn and the second senario I have acted with M arco.



Senario 1 - Ming (Supervisor)

You are the supervisor of a small unit of seven employees. Four month ago Jamie joined your department. For the initial three months Jamie's work was excellent and he was never late or absent. About four weeks ago Jamie was late returning from lunch by twenty minutes. You spoke about it in a very low key sort of way, since it was olny the first time it happened. Jamie was late again last week, but because of series of meetings you never mentioned it to him. Your own work has kept you so busy that you haven't given Jamie or any of your people the attention they deserve. Today Jamie was again late returning from lunch by about fifteen minutes. Your company allows 45 minutes for lunch and it can sometimes be difficult to meet the schedule, but that is the rule. You have just asked Jamie into your office to talk about this, since you want to stop the lateness before it gets worse. Jamie's work is still excellent and you don't want this to get in the way of his future.



Senario 2 - Lee (Employee)

Earlier today your boss asked you to finished a stack of work left over by one of your co-workers who went home sick. You were really annoyed, since you are always the person asked to fill in and complete the work. Your boss never seems to ask anyone else. Everytime you do this, your work suffers, you fall behind, and then you have to work twice as hard to catch up. You let Sam know in no uncertain terms how annoyed you were, but still did the work. Again, your own work has suffered and you have to work late. Bill and Mary, both Senior Associates, recently retired and have not been replaced. This alone created even more work, without you having to cover for people who are sick. You let Sam know about your feelings this morning. Your boss was not happy with your outburst, but you are really upset and still are. You don't know why Sam always comes to yousince there are others in the department. If you're so important and so good, why don't they promote you to a Senior Associate? Sam just called you and asked that you come to his office.

According to the senario I have encounter certain difficulties, but I managed to overcome it with the help of both Flyn and Marco. After the practicing the senario we were to complete a negotiation sheet in preparation for tomorrow test. Ms Linda told the whole class not to worry on the test tomorrow as we had enough practice for the day. She wished us luck and reminded us not to be late for the test tomorrow.

EK