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Interest Based Decision Making Final

Interest_Based_Decision_Making_Final

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45 views

Interest Based Decision Making Final

Interest_Based_Decision_Making_Final

Uploaded by

Alina Molesag
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Washington State Department of Early Learning

Negotiated Rulemaking

Interest-Based Decision Making

“Integrative” or Interest-Based Bargaining is a negotiating methodology for all


parties to find a “win-win” in negotiating. Its main focus is to bring all parties
involved in the negotiations to come together on a shared agenda and criteria
for understanding what constitutes a “win” for the negotiating parties. This
requires negotiators to understand the “needs, desires, concerns, and fears
important to each side.” By understanding the motivations behind each side,
negotiators can speak in the same “language,” and appreciate and take into
consideration the perspective of each side.

An interest-based negotiation strategy should involve asking investigative


questions to determine the “Why.” Why do you need that? Why do you think
that way? What makes you concerned about this? Use the answers you find
from these questions to help weigh the consequences (the pros and cons) of the
different options presented. The graphic to the right summarizes the steps and
considerations involved in interest-based decision making.

For more information on Integrative/Interest-Based Bargaining, please read the


2003 article by Brad Spangler at the following URL:
http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/interest-based-bargaining. For
additional reading on multi-party negotiations, read the 2004 Harvard Business
School article by Lawrence Susskind here:
http://hbswk.hbs.edu/archive/3898.html.

Here’s an example of interest-based decision making versus traditional “positional negotiating:”

Topic: “Clearly, the sky is always grey”

Positional Negotiations Interest-Based Negotiations


• That’s dumb, it’s blue! • From my perspective, growing up in Seattle,
• It’s just grey, duh, I don’t have to explain the sky is grey fairly often due to the rain.
myself! • I understand in Seattle the sky may be grey
• Well, actually, it’s black at night, too. much of the time, but in Spokane it can also be
• That’s clearly an opinion and it’s not blue. Can we agree on that?
acceptable in this discussion. • Well, scientifically, the molecules in the air
• Everyone knows the sky is blue. Unless you are scatter blue light from the sun more than they
color blind. scatter red light, which is why it looks blue
when it’s not cloudy.

Material provided by Public Consulting Group, Inc. Page 1


Washington State Department of Early Learning
Negotiated Rulemaking

Let’s Practice! Consider the following scenario:

• You are part of the (16-17 person) city council in Dual Crests, WA
• Dual Crests’ Mayor, Daniel Finch is a proponent of using interest-based decision making in
deliberating changes going on in Dual Crests, and today’s meeting of the city council is no different
• Dual Crests had a budget surplus this year due to a recent influx of tourism thanks to the upcoming
release of the revival of the early ‘90s hit TV-show Double Summits, which was filmed partially in
Dual Crests
• Today’s city council meeting, mediated by the Mayor, has been convened to determine how to
spend the additional $500,000.00 in revenue. Use Interest-Based Decision making to collaboratively
decide how to spend those dollars.

Divide into groups of 16-17 people. Count off to randomly assign each member of the group one of the
city council members characters. Using interest-based decision making practices, take on your character’s
perspective and discuss your input on how to spend the additional $500,000 in revenue.

Material provided by Public Consulting Group, Inc. Page 2


Washington State Department of Early Learning
Negotiated Rulemaking

City council members

# Name Interests and Motivations

1 Lori Walker • Grade school teacher


• Middle school needs renovations, more teachers
2 Harold S. Newman • Sheriff of Dual Crests (yes, he’s also a council member, go
figure)
• Wants greater investment in police force and prison space
3 D.D. Cooper • FBI agent based in Dual Crests
• Wants greater investment in roads so that more tourists can
come and try the pie in the local diner
4 Bill Maynard • Local doctor
• Wants more city investment in local hospital and provide free
flu shots for all town residents
5 Lenny Bourne • Owns largest hotel in Dual Crests area
• Wants more investment in local infrastructure, internet, roads,
etc., to attract more tourists
6 Leslie Lockhart • Owns local sawmill that’s running nowhere near capacity
• Wants investment in job training for locals in carpentry and
woodwork and lumberjacking
7 Colonel Gnarland Biggs • Retired Air Force officer
• Wants job training investment for deep-space research
8 Big Ned Curley • Owner of local gas station
• Wants better road investment to accommodate more tourists
who will buy gas
9 Nelly Davidson • Local waitress at the diner
• Wants better job training programs for herself, better
accommodations for tourists
10 Dr. Larry Renaldi • Local psychiatrist
• Wants more investment in local health programs
11 Avery Baccus • Store manager of local department store
• Favors investment that will attract more tourists
12 Gary Bannon • Sheriff’s deputy
• Wants more investment in police for raises and more recruits
13 Marcy Loran • Receptionist at Sheriff’s department
• Just wants a raise
14 Mary Winterman • Local mystic
• Wants investment to attract tourists to her place of business
15 Maggie Wilford • Local newspaper publisher
• Wants job training investment to hire new journalists
16 Robert Rose • Local coroner
• Wants more investment in law enforcement
17 Stan Samuel • Forensics expert
• Favors investment in job training and law enforcement

Material provided by Public Consulting Group, Inc. Page 3

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