Distributive and Integrative Negotiations
Read the sections on the distributive and integrative approaches to negotiations. The often-cited analogy for an integrative or collaborative concept is to "expand the pie", whereas in a distributive negotiation, the parties view the pie as fixed. Each of the parties tries to get more of the pie and win.
Negotiation Strategies
Distributive Approach
The distributive view of negotiation is the traditional fixed-pie approach. That is, negotiators see the situation as a pie that they have to divide between them. Each tries to get more of the pie and "win". For example, managers may compete over shares of a budget. If marketing gets a 10% increase in its budget, another department such as R&D will need to decrease its budget by 10% to offset the marketing increase. Focusing on a fixed pie is a common mistake in negotiation, because this view limits the creative solutions possible.
Integrative Approach
A newer, more creative approach to negotiation is called the integrative approach. In this approach, both parties look for ways to integrate their goals under a larger umbrella. That is, they look for ways to expand the pie, so that each party gets more. This is also called a win–win approach. The first step of the integrative approach is to enter the negotiation from a cooperative rather than an adversarial stance. The second step is all about listening. Listening develops trust as each party learns what the other wants and everyone involved arrives at a mutual understanding. Then, all parties can explore ways to achieve the individual goals. The general idea is, "If we put our heads together, we can find a solution that addresses everybody's needs". Unfortunately, integrative outcomes are not the norm. A summary of 32 experiments on negotiations found that although they could have resulted in integrated outcomes, only 20% did so. One key factor related to finding integrated solutions is the experience of the negotiators who were able to reach them.
OB Toolbox: Seven Steps to Negotiating a Higher Salary
- Step 1: Overcome your fear.
- The first step is to overcome your fears. Many people don't even begin a salary negotiation. We may be afraid of angering the boss or think that because we are doing a good job, we'll automatically be rewarded. But, just because you're doing a good job doesn't mean you'll automatically get a raise. Why? If you don't ask for one, the boss may believe you're satisfied with what you're getting. So why should he pay you more? Imagine going into a car dealership and being absolutely delighted with a car choice. The sticker price is $19,000. Would you pay the dealer $23,000 just because you really like the car? Of course not. You probably wouldn't even offer $19,000. If the car was up for auction, however, and another bidder offered $20,000, you'd likely increase your offer, too.
- That's what salary negotiation is like. Your boss
may be thrilled with you but at the same time is running a business.
There's no reason to pay an employee more if you seem satisfied with
your current salary.
- Step 2: Get the facts.
- Before
you enter into the negotiation, do some background research. What are
other companies paying people in your position? Check sites such as
Payscale.com, salary.com, and salaryexpert.com to get a feel for the
market. Look at surveys conducted by your professional organization.
- Before
you enter into the negotiation, do some background research. What are
other companies paying people in your position? Check sites such as
Payscale.com, salary.com, and salaryexpert.com to get a feel for the
market. Look at surveys conducted by your professional organization.
- Step 3: Build your case.
- How
important are you to the organization? How have you contributed?
Perhaps you contributed by increasing sales, winning over angry
customers, getting feuding team members to cooperate, and so on. Make a
list of your contributions. Be sure to focus on the contributions that
your boss values most. Is it getting recognition for the department?
Easing workload? If another employer has shown interest in you, mention
that as a fact. However, don't use this as a threat unless you're
prepared to take the other offer. Mentioning interest from another
employer gets the boss to think, "If I don't give this raise, I may lose
the employee". (By the way, if you don't feel you have a strong case
for your raise, perhaps this isn't the time to ask for one.)
- How
important are you to the organization? How have you contributed?
Perhaps you contributed by increasing sales, winning over angry
customers, getting feuding team members to cooperate, and so on. Make a
list of your contributions. Be sure to focus on the contributions that
your boss values most. Is it getting recognition for the department?
Easing workload? If another employer has shown interest in you, mention
that as a fact. However, don't use this as a threat unless you're
prepared to take the other offer. Mentioning interest from another
employer gets the boss to think, "If I don't give this raise, I may lose
the employee". (By the way, if you don't feel you have a strong case
for your raise, perhaps this isn't the time to ask for one.)
- Step 4: Know what you want.
- Set
your target salary goal based on your research and the norms of what
your organization will pay. Now ask yourself, if you don't get this
figure, would you quit? If not, are there other alternatives besides a
salary increase that you'd consider? For example, would you accept a
higher title? More vacation time? Paid training to learn a new skill?
Flexible hours?
- Set
your target salary goal based on your research and the norms of what
your organization will pay. Now ask yourself, if you don't get this
figure, would you quit? If not, are there other alternatives besides a
salary increase that you'd consider? For example, would you accept a
higher title? More vacation time? Paid training to learn a new skill?
Flexible hours?
- Step 5: Begin assertively.
- Start
the discussion on a strong but friendly tone. "I think I'm worth more
than I'm being paid". List the ways you've contributed to the company.
- Start
the discussion on a strong but friendly tone. "I think I'm worth more
than I'm being paid". List the ways you've contributed to the company.
- Step 6: Don't make the first offer.
- Let
your boss name the figure. You can do this by asking, "How much of a
raise could you approve?" However, if the boss insists that you name a
figure, ask for the most that you can reasonably expect to get. You want
to be reasonable, but you need to allow room to make a concession. Your
boss will assume your opening number was high and will offer you less,
so asking for the actual figure you want may leave you feeling
disappointed.
- If the boss opens with, "The salary
range for this position is $66,000 to 78,000," ask for the high end. If
your goal was higher than that range, challenge the range by explaining
how you are an exception and why you deserve more.
- Let
your boss name the figure. You can do this by asking, "How much of a
raise could you approve?" However, if the boss insists that you name a
figure, ask for the most that you can reasonably expect to get. You want
to be reasonable, but you need to allow room to make a concession. Your
boss will assume your opening number was high and will offer you less,
so asking for the actual figure you want may leave you feeling
disappointed.
- Step 7: Listen more than talk.
- You'll
learn more by listening rather than talking. The more you listen, the
better the boss will feel about you - people tend to like and trust
people who listen to them.
- If you can't get a raise now, get your boss to agree to one in a few months if you meet agreed-upon objectives.
- You'll
learn more by listening rather than talking. The more you listen, the
better the boss will feel about you - people tend to like and trust
people who listen to them.
This text was adapted by Saylor Academy under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License without attribution as requested by the work's original creator or licensor.