The late Nelson Mandela will certainly be remembered as one of the best negotiators in history. He was clearly “the greatest negotiator of the twentieth century,” wrote Harvard Law School professor and former Program on Negotiation Chairman Robert H. Mnookin in his seminal book, Bargaining with the Devil, When to Negotiate, When to Fight.
… Read More 
Robert Mnookin
The following items are tagged Robert Mnookin:
NEW! Harvard Mediation Intensive
Led by mediation experts Audrey Lee and Alain Lempereur, the Harvard Mediation Intensive delves into mediation principles and processes through interactive presentations and hands-on exercises. From employment and business disagreements to public and international conflicts, you will discover effective ways to enable parties to settle their differences across a variety of contexts.
… Read NEW! Harvard Mediation Intensive
Art Buchwald, Paramount Pictures, and the Cost of Litigation Instead of Negotiation
When Art Buchwald sued Paramount Pictures over the 1988 Eddie Murphy movie Coming to America, the widely reported outcome was seen as a win for the late, beloved humorist. But Buchwald actually lost — and so did Paramount.
… Read More
Nelson Mandela: Negotiation Lessons from a Master
Some people learn to negotiate on the job, in a classroom, or in a therapist’s office. In Nelson Mandela’s case, “prison taught him to be a master negotiator,” writes Bill Keller in his New York Times obituary of the legendary activist turned president, who died on December 5, 2013.
… Read Nelson Mandela: Negotiation Lessons from a Master
Managing a Multiparty Negotiation
What is multiparty negotiation? Multiparty negotiations can be incredibly challenging. Just ask the negotiators from over 170 countries who managed to reach agreement back in 2015 on a legally binding accord to combat climate change.
… Read Managing a Multiparty Negotiation
5 Dealmaking Tips for Closing the Deal
What should you do when you’ve done everything right, but you still aren’t closing the deal? Here are some dealmaking tips.
… Read 5 Dealmaking Tips for Closing the Deal
10 Real-World Negotiation Examples
Real-world negotiation examples can help us learn from the past and avoid repeating others’ mistakes. Here’s a recap of 10 real-world negotiation examples across government and industry that provide negotiation lessons for all business negotiators.
… Read 10 Real-World Negotiation Examples
Power Asymmetry and the Principal Agent Problem
This video simulation on power asymmetry and principal agent dynamics by Professor Lawrence Susskind and Robert Wilkinson was designed to give students insights into the challenges surrounding difficult conversations, both with people across the table, as well as with people on their own side.
… Read Power Asymmetry and the Principal Agent Problem
5 Conflict Resolution Strategies
Whether a conflict erupts at work or at home, we frequently fall back on the tendency to try to correct the other person or group’s perceptions, lecturing them about why we’re right—and they’re wrong. Deep down, we know that this conflict management approach usually fails to resolve the conflict and often only makes it worse.
… Read 5 Conflict Resolution Strategies
Value Conflict: What It Is and How to Resolve It
Some of our most heated negotiations and disputes involve value conflict over our core values, such as our personal moral standards, our religious and political beliefs, and our family’s welfare.
… Read Value Conflict: What It Is and How to Resolve It
The Ladder of Inference: A Resource List
The ladder of inference describes how a negotiator, or any decision maker, relies upon her personal knowledge, or observable data, up the ladder of inference to the next stage, which is selected data.
… Read The Ladder of Inference: A Resource List
10 Hard-Bargaining Tactics to Watch Out for in a Negotiation
Some negotiators seem to believe that hard-bargaining tactics are the key to success. They resort to threats, extreme demands, and even unethical behavior to try to get the upper hand in a negotiation. In fact, negotiators who fall back on hard-bargaining strategies in negotiation are typically betraying a lack of understanding about the gains that … Read More
3 Types of Conflict and How to Address Them
In the workplace, it sometimes seems as if conflict is always with us. Miss a deadline, and you are likely to face conflict with your boss. Lash out at a colleague who you feel continually undermines you, and you’ll end up in conflict. And if you disagree with a fellow manager about whether to represent … Read 3 Types of Conflict and How to Address Them
Crisis Negotiation Lessons: The U.S.-Russia Prisoner Swap
A crisis negotiation presents seemingly insurmountable challenges. Yet we can learn much from its complexity, as the 2024 prisoner swap between the United States and Russia shows.
… Read More
Best Negotiation Books: A Negotiation Reading List
Whether you are facing negotiations with Congress, colleagues, customers, or family members, the following negotiation books, published in recent years by experts from the Program on Negotiation, offer new perspectives on common negotiating dilemmas.
… Read More
Negotiation as Your BATNA: The Syrian Civil War and Crisis Negotiations
Sometimes your best alternative to a negotiated agreement (BATNA) is realizing that the negotiation itself is worth the risk. Back in May 2012, the United States and Russia announced a plan to hold a peace conference aimed at ending the civil war in Syria, which had killed more than 70,000 people at that time.
… Read More
Bargaining for a New Car: Real World Negotiations Examples
When it comes to bargaining for a new car, are women negotiating harder bargains than men?
According to a recent report from NPR Morning Edition’s Sonari Glinton, women not only negotiate harder bargains than men when it comes to vehicle purchases, but also they do more extensive preparatory work (See: Negotiating for What You Really Want- … Read More
Building Coalitions: Apple and the Art of Persuasion
Whether you have one of its ubiquitous products or even its rivals offerings, you most certainly have heard of Apple, the United States electronics giant whose phoenix-like rise to the top of the business world has inspired legions of fans and detractors alike.
… Read More
“No One is Really in Charge” Hostage Taking and the Risks of No-Negotiation Policies
In the business world, we sometimes are tempted to avoid negotiating with people or groups we view to be immoral, untrustworthy, or simply unlikable. Imagine a counterpart who works in a business that you believe to be immoral, someone who has a reputation for gossiping about colleagues, or a longtime client who routinely falls back on hardball … Read More
Dear Negotiation Coach: What Happens When a Business Contract Falls Apart?
We recently received a question from a reader regarding a business contract conflict. Robert Mnookin, Williston Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, chair of the Program on Negotiation, and author of Bargaining with the Devil: When to Negotiate, When to Fight (Simon & Schuster, 2010), explains that you may have more options than it … Read More
Negotiating with the Enemy
Should negotiating with the enemy always be off the table? The 2014 Bergdahl exchange offers insights for negotiators who are deciding whether to do business with a known enemy.
On May 31, 2014 the White House made the surprise announcement that the Taliban had released Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, the sole American prisoner of war in the … Read Negotiating with the Enemy
Dear Negotiation Coach: Can Negotiation Theory Help Us Understand Our Religious Identity?
Negotiation theory suggests you focus on interests, not positions; separate inventing from committing; invest heavily in “What if?” questions; insist on objective criteria; and try to build nearly self-enforcing agreements.
But what if the negotiation is with yourself, or about your own religious identity?
For example, what does it mean to be Jewish in America? What challenges … Read More
Tough Negotiator: Insights on Vladimir Putin from Former U.S. Secretaries of State
How should you prepare to negotiate effectively with an exceptionally tough negotiator? That’s the question the United States and its allies have faced since Russian president Vladimir Putin sent his troops to wage war on Ukraine on February 24. The experiences and insights of five former U.S. secretaries of state who negotiated directly with Putin … Read More
Moving Toward Group Conflict Resolution
Over the years, what many believe to be Jesus’s tomb in Jerusalem’s Old City has been the site of tensions that have at times escalated into violence. Inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Roman Catholic communities guard the shrine surrounding the tomb, which they consider the holiest site in … Read Moving Toward Group Conflict Resolution
How to Negotiate with Difficult People: International Negotiation, and a Refusal to Communicate
Business negotiators sometimes face the difficult question of whether to negotiate with someone they believe to be immoral, untrustworthy, or otherwise undesirable as a negotiating partner. In his book Bargaining with the Devil: When to Negotiate, When to Fight (Simon & Schuster, 2011), Program on Negotiation chair Robert Mnookin offers negotiation advice on the complex … Read More
Conflict Management and Negotiating When Pride is at Stake
The fallout from Iceland’s financial crisis offers a case study in dealing with those who have suffered a significant blow to their self-esteem. In late 2008, Iceland teetered on the edge of bankruptcy following the collapse of its three largest banks. Since becoming independent of the government in 2002, the banks had pursued a strategy … Read More
Must-Read Negotiation Books for 2019
The year 2017 offered plenty of negotiation hits and misses in the realms of government, business, and beyond. To avoid failed negotiations in 2018, politicians, business leaders, and the rest of us would be wise to explore the following recent negotiation books, which can help steer us through our most difficult negotiating dilemmas:
… Read Must-Read Negotiation Books for 2019
Negotiation Skills and Strategies at Work: Negotiating Jewish Identity
What does it mean to be Jewish in America? The question offers many opportunities to apply negotiation skills and strategies, writes Robert Mnookin in his new book, The Jewish American Paradox: Embracing Choice in a Changing World (PublicAffairs, 2018). The author of numerous books on negotiation, Mnookin is the Samuel Williston Professor of Law at … Read More
Teaching Negotiation Videos – All Downloadable!
Have you been energized by the unique “aha” moment students experience when negotiation videos are used in their class? Us too!
… Read Teaching Negotiation Videos – All Downloadable!
Most Startups Fail. But Yours Doesn’t Have To.
We recently interviewed Samuel Dinnar—instructor at the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School, global entrepreneur, and strategic negotiation advisor—about his new book, Entrepreneurial Negotiation: Understanding and Managing the Relationships that Determine Your Entrepreneurial Success. In this insightful book, Dinnar and Susskind delve into the reasons why entrepreneurs fumble key negotiations—and what they can do … Read Most Startups Fail. But Yours Doesn’t Have To.
Kissinger the Negotiator: New Book on Dealmaking and Diplomacy
Lessons from Dealmaking at the Highest Level
In this groundbreaking, definitive guide to the art of negotiation, PON faculty James Sebenius (Harvard Business School) and Robert Mnookin (Harvard Law School), along with R. Nicholas Burns of the Harvard Kennedy School, offer a comprehensive examination of one of the most successful dealmakers of all time: Henry Kissinger.
Politicians, … Read More
Top International Multiparty Negotiations: Dissent in the European Union
A European Union summit held in late October 2013 failed to make headway toward more coordination of economic policies. Facing resistance from Germany in particular, European officials grew pessimistic regarding their odds of negotiating a deal over the next year to lay the foundation for a banking union for the 17 nations that use the … Read More
Dealing with Difficult People – In and Outside of Congress
In business negotiations, we sometimes face the task of dealing with difficult people—those who seem to pick fights, hold offensive views, or rely on hard-bargaining tactics. Some of us naturally turn away from such difficult negotiations. Others choose to try to overlook or overcome the flaws they see in potential negotiating partners.
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Negotiating with Your Agent
Toby knew that Dara was the perfect New York literary agent for him as soon as he heard her friendly, professional voice on the phone. Never mind that 17 other agents had already rejected his book proposal. Dara’s enthusiasm and recent sales convinced him to sign the three-year exclusive contract she mailed to him in … Read Negotiating with Your Agent
The Fiscal Cliff and the Debt Ceiling: Program on Negotiation Chair Robert Mnookin Discusses Recent and Future Negotiations Between Congressional Republicans and the White House
What methodology was driving the posturing and statements behind congressional Republicans and the Obama administration’s negotiations regarding the debt ceiling and how both sides came together to avoid going off of the “fiscal cliff.”
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Conflict Resolution When Dealing with Difficult People: Shutting Down the Government and Negotiation Strategies
Program on Negotiation faculty discuss the negotiation strategies used by US President Barack Obama and Congressional Republicans negotiating the end of the shutdown of the United States government.
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Madeleine Albright Joins the Program on Negotiation for the American Secretaries of State Project
Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright joins the Program on Negotiation’s American Secretaries of State Project.
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Today’s Middle East and Israel’s Elections: What is at Stake?
The Program on Negotiationat Harvard Law School is pleased to co-sponsor the Harvard Hillel’s second
Riesman Forum on Politics and Policy
Today’s Middle East and Israel’s Elections:
What is at Stake?
with
Ambassador Dennis Ross
William Davidson Distinguished Fellow
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Professor Gabriella Blum
Rita E. Hauser Professor of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
Harvard Law School
Moderated by
Professor Robert H. Mnookin
Samuel Williston … Read More
50th Anniversary of A Behavioral Theory of Labor Negotiations
The Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School invites you to join us for A 50th Anniversary Celebration of A Behavioral Theory of Labor Negotiations with Robert B. McKersie and Richard E. Walton A live webcast of this event will be available for viewing at http://media.fas.harvard.edu/core/live/hls-live.html
Thursday, March 5, 2015
12:00 p.m. Registration opens
1:00 – 5:30 p.m. Program
5:30-6:30 p.m. Reception
Wasserstein … Read More
Dispute Resolution: Robert DeNiro Leaves Conflict Management to the Courts
Turning to litigation when disputes arise can be costly and time consuming. Instead of using the courts to resolve your dispute, negotiation offers a myriad of benefits for disputants who are seeking to resolve their conflict, create value, and save time and money.
… Read More
The Risks of Taking Dealmaking Off the Table
On December 7, the news broke that Pierre Korkie, a South African who had been held hostage in Yemen by Al Qaeda, was killed by his guards just hours before his scheduled release due to a botched U.S. attempt to free another hostage. The tragedy suggests the dangers not only of refusing to engage in … Read The Risks of Taking Dealmaking Off the Table
Stay “in the deal”
As Joe Biden tells it, he never wanted to be vice president.
When Barack Obama asked him to consider being vetted as his running mate, Biden declined. Traditionally, the vice presidency was a largely ceremonial position removed from the center of power. Though recent VPs, most notably Dick Cheney, had changed that, Biden, as a longtime … Read Stay “in the deal”
Crisis Negotiations: Program on Negotiation Chair Robert Mnookin Joins Guest Panel on CNN Tonight to Discuss the Release of Bowe Bergdahl
CNN Tonight host Dan Lemon recently featured Program on Negotiation Chair Robert Mnookin along with fellow Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz, storied commentator Anne Coulter, and Peter Bergen, CNN national security analyst, for a panel discussion regarding the recent exchange of Taliban prisoner for US soldier, Bowe Bergdahl.
The night’s discussion centered on whether or … Read More
Robert Mnookin to Mediate Negotiations Led by Middle East NGO Peacehub
After the conclusion of a reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu labeled collusion with a terrorist organization, the Middle East peace process has arrived at another, hopefully temporary, standstill.
… Read More
With “Surrender,” John Boehner Shows Keen Negotiation Skills
On February 11, House of Representatives Speaker John A. Boehner reportedly rendered his Republican colleagues speechless. At a meeting of the Republican Capitol Hill Club, Boehner announced that he would bring to a vote a measure to raise the U.S. government’s borrowing limit without preconditions until March 2015, as reported in the New York Times.
The … Read More
Robert Mnookin Writes for CNN About “How Obama and Boehner Can Get to Yes”
Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School Chair and Samuel Williston Professor of Law Robert Mnookin wrote for CNN’s Opinion about the government shutdown negotiations between congressional Republicans and United States President Barack Obama. To read “How Obama and Boehner Can Get to ‘Yes’ ,” please click here.
… Read More
Program on Negotiation Faculty On How To End the US Government Shutdown
The Washington Post’s “On Leadership” column by Jenna McGregor asked renowned negotiation experts on how the government shutdown in Washington, DC could be ended at the bargaining table.
Among the experts interviewed were Robert Mnookin, Chair of the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School (PON) and author of Bargaining With The Devil: When To Negotiate, … Read More
Government Shutdown Negotiations: Robert Mnookin on NPR’s “Here & Now”
Program on Negotiation Chair Robert Mnookin sat down with National Public Radio’s Here & Now to discuss the government shutdown and the negotiating impasse between congressional Republicans and US President Barack Obama. Currently the clip is available on Here & Now’s website – click here to listen.
… Read More
PON Chair Robert Mnookin Discusses the Stalemate Between President Obama and Congressional Republicans
Program on Negotiation Chair and “Bargaining with the Devil” author Robert Mnookin was recently asked by CNN Fortune’s Claire Zillman about the strategies that Obama could employ in bringing congressional Republicans to the bargaining table in order to end the three-day old government shutdown.
… Read More
Ambassador Tommy Koh of Singapore Named the Great Negotiator by the Program on Negotiation and the Future of Diplomacy Project
The Program on Negotiation, an inter-university consortium of Harvard, MIT, and Tufts, and Harvard’s Future of Diplomacy Project have named Ambassador Tommy Koh of Singapore the recipient of the 2014 Great Negotiator Award. In public events at Harvard planned for the afternoon of Thursday, April 10, 2014 (details to be announced), participants will honor Koh’s … Read More
When You Shouldn’t Go It Alone
A five-year old American manufacturer of medical equipment has just secured a patent on its primary product, a new kind of heart monitor. The potential market is even stronger than the company imagined, yet its second round of venture capital funding is coming to an end. A few other manufacturers are about to go public … Read When You Shouldn’t Go It Alone
The Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School: Three Decades of Scholarship and Practice
Founded in 1983, the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School is a pioneer in the fields of negotiation, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution.
In commemoration of the program’s 30th anniversary this year, the Program on Negotiation is proud to present a video describing many of PON’s various educational and research activities.
According to Chair Robert Mnookin, … Read More
“Confronting Evil” Panel Videos Now Available on YouTube
On Saturday, April 20, 2013, the Program on Negotiation co-hosted a conference on “Confronting Evil: Interdisciplinary Perspectives,” in partnership with the Mahindra Humanities Center at Harvard University and the Volkswagen Foundation.
… Read More
“Confronting Evil” Panel Videos Now Available Online
On Saturday, April 20, 2013, the Program on Negotiation co-hosted a conference on “Confronting Evil: Interdisciplinary Perspectives,” in partnership with the Mahindra Humanities Center at Harvard University and the Volkswagen Foundation.
Originally scheduled to commence on Friday, April 19th, the conference had to be condensed to a single day due to the lock-down of the Boston … Read More
Working with Your Agent – and Someone Else’s – In Negotiation
Negotiations become especially complex when agents are involved on two or more sides.
In the course, of their research, Robert Mnookin and Lawrence Susskind discovered that many negotiators often mistakenly assume that an agent representing the other side
… Read More
Confronting Evil: Interdisciplinary Perspectives Conference underway
Today’s Confronting Evil: Interdisciplinary Conference will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Emerson Hall on the Harvard University Campus. All four panels will be presented today.
… Read More
Robert Mnookin Joins Panel to Discuss the Fiscal Cliff Negotiations on NPR’s Forum
Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School Chair Robert Mnookin was recently invited to a panel discussion on San Francisco radio station KQED’s ‘Forum’ to discuss the fiscal cliff negotiations.
… Read More
Unilateral Initiatives in the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict
Yaakov Katz, a correspondent for The Jerusalem Post and Jane’s Defence Weekly, and Prof. Robert Mnookin, the Samuel Williston Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, will discuss Unilateral Initiatives in the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict.
… Read More
Robert Mnookin Honored by International Academy of Mediators with Lifetime Achievement Award
Program on Negotiation Chair Robert Mnookin was honored by the International Academy of Mediators with a lifetime achievement award during the organization’s fall 2012 conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
… Read More
Roger Fisher Papers Open at Harvard Law School Library
Roger Fisher, one of the cofounders of the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School and Samuel Williston Professor of Law, Emeritus, was honored on the 8th of April with a celebration of his career, research, and contributions to both the HLS community and the field of negotiation.
… Read More
Framing the Issue: Program on Negotiation Chair Robert Mnookin Leads HLS Reading Group in Study of U.S.-Cuba Relations
Reading groups at Harvard Law School, consisting of 2Ls and 3Ls, present faculty and students with opportunities to study with one another in a less formal setting. Additionally, students are encouraged and are able to gain an in-depth knowledge of the particular reading group’s subject matter.
… Read More
Great Negotiator Award 2012
The Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School, in conjunction with the Future of Diplomacy Project at Harvard Kennedy School, honored distinguished statesman and former Secretary of State James A. Baker III as the recipient of their Great Negotiator Award for 2012. Secretary Baker served under President George H.W. Bush from 1989 to 1992.
A … Read Great Negotiator Award 2012
When Others are Counting on You
Unless your official title is “lawyer” or “agent” you probably don’t think of yourself as an agent. But if you’ve ever represented a family member, your boss, your department, or your organization in a negotiation, you’ve served as that party’s agent.
Representing others at the bargaining table creates both opportunities and hazards. In their book, Negotiating … Read When Others are Counting on You
Fight or Flight
Many things factor into whether you choose “fight or flight” when faced with a difficult situation in life. Whether it is a disagreeable coworker or a border struggle between nations, the decisions made at the onset of conflict often determine the tenor of the entire proceeding.
Along with information and a good-faith desire for collaboration, knowing … Read Fight or Flight
Mnookin featured as a distinguished speaker in Israel
In December 2011, Professor Robert Mnookin, Chair of the Program on Negotiation, was invited by Daniel Shapiro, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, to speak on the topic of his recent book: Bargaining with the Devil: When to Negotiate and When to Fight. Part of a series on “Distinguished American Speakers, ” the event was held in … Read More
Further reading on “Israel’s Prisoner Exchange: An Irrational Trade?” from the January 2012 issue of the Negotiation newsletter
Read more on “Israel’s Prisoner Exchange: An Irrational Trade?” from the January 2012 issue of the Negotiation newsletter in the following two articles: Israel’s Deals with the Devils
By: Robert Mnookin
The Shalit Deal: Opportunities for Negotiators
By: Dr. Ehud Eiran
Bargaining with the Devil:
Strategies and Techniques for Negotiating with Tough Opponents
Bargaining with the Devil A PON Webinar with Professor Robert Mnookin Samuel Williston Professor of Law, Harvard Law School Chair, Program on Negotiation Executive Committee Date: Tuesday, October 4, 2011 Time: 1:00 PM to 2:15 PM ET .
About the Webinar:
From the NFL to state governments, negotiation is in the news these days. The issues are vastly different, but these two negotiations have one … Read More
Should you deal with the devil?
Adapted from “Should You Do Business with the Enemy?” first published in the Negotiation newsletter, March 2010.
At one time or another, most of us have faced the prospect of negotiating with a sworn enemy—whether a “greedy” sibling, an “evil” ex-spouse, or an “immoral” company. There is no right or wrong answer to the question … Read Should you deal with the devil?
Expect Brinkmanship in the Debt Ceiling Negotiations?
Negotiations over raising the debt ceiling limit for the United States remain contentious, leading some to speculate that a deal will not be reached until the 11th hour, if at all. Professor Robert Mnookin, chair of the Program on Negotiation’s Executive Committee, noted in a recent ABC News article that the negotiations resemble a … Read More
Bye Bye Belgium?
The New York Times
Co-authored by Robert Mnookin (Samuel Williston Professor of Law, Harvard Law School; Chair, Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School) and Alain Verbeke
Belgium’s days as a united nation may be numbered. In this 2006 piece, the authors summarize the conflicts that divide the country and offer an ironic prediction that every negotiator … Read Bye Bye Belgium?
Bargaining with the Devil:
Strategies and Techniques for Negotiating with Tough Opponents
Bargaining with the Devil A PON Webinar with Professor Robert Mnookin Samuel Williston Professor of Law, Harvard Law School Chair, Program on Negotiation Executive Committee Date: Tuesday, May 17, 2011 Time: 1:00 PM to 2:15 PM ET To register, click here.
About the Webinar:
From the NFL to state governments, negotiation is in the news these days. The issues are vastly different, but these two … Read More
PON Chair Robert Mnookin Featured on Nevada Public Radio
PON Chair Robert Mnookin discussed his book Bargaining with the Devil: When to Negotiate, When to Fight on Nevada Public Radio on February 24th.
To listen to the interview, click here.
Professor Mnookin will be teaching a one-day Executive Education course based on Bargaining with the Devil on April 21. Click here to learn more about the … Read More
Knocking
At first glance, Knocking is about Jehovah’s Witnesses, the door-to-door proselytizers we like to hide from. But there’s a bigger story as the film asks whether they are a necessary annoyance in a free society. What if you wanted to speak, publish, worship or live as you choose but belonged to the marginalized group of … Read Knocking
PON Chair Robert Mnookin Interviewed on Belgian Public Broadcast
PON Chair Robert Mnookin suggests 2010 Great Negotiator Martti Ahtisaari as a possible international mediator who may be able to help solve the ongoing conflict in Belgium. Professor Mnookin notes that bringing in an outside mediator can help avoid “reactive devaluation,” or the devaluing of a possible solution simply because it was suggested by an … Read More
How to Turn a Maybe Into a Yes
Adapted from “Closing the Deal,” by Michael Wheeler (professor, Harvard Business School), first published in the Negotiation newsletter.
You’ve followed the negotiation guidebooks to a T, uncovered the parties’ key interests, brainstormed creative solutions, and even developed good rapport with your counterpart. You’ve done everything right…but you still don’t have agreement.
How do you turn the other … Read How to Turn a Maybe Into a Yes
Bargaining with the Devil: How Should Barack Obama Deal with Evil?
Robert Mnookin (Samuel Williston Professor of Law, Harvard Law School)
As a negotiator, you have to deal with the devil (someone not trustworthy) sometimes. Should you make a deal or fight? In this article, the author recommends asking five questions to help you decide which course to pursue.
Read more.
… Read More
Save the Dates: Announcing the PON Spring 2011 Events Calendar
The Program on Negotiation Spring 2011 Events Calendar: February 1: Herbert C. Kelman Seminar on International Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Negotiation, Conflict and the News Media: Cambodia, Kevin Doyle and Steve Marks, 4:00pm-6:00pm
February 15: Brown Bag Lunch Series: Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Muslim Brotherhood – Obstacles to Peace in the … Read More
How and When to Negotiate with an Adversary
Robert Mnookin (Samuel Williston Professor of Law; Harvard Law School; Chair, Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School; author of “Bargaining with the Devil”; co-author of “Beyond Winning”)
What factors determine whether you should negotiate? What things influence the bargaining process? Should you negotiate with your “enemy”? If so, how? In this piece, Robert Mnookin draws … Read How and When to Negotiate with an Adversary
New PON Teaching Materials About the Work of Martti Ahtisaari, 2010 Great Negotiator Award Recipient
The Program on Negotiation’s 2010 Great Negotiator Award was given to former Finnish President, Martti Ahtisaari, for his many significant achievements in the fields of negotiation and diplomacy. He was central to the Namibian independence negotiations in the late 1980s. He also served as chief United Nations negotiator to Kosovo from 2005-2006, and was instrumental … Read More
Professor Robert Mnookin Discusses Apple and the Beatles in the NY Times
PON Chair Robert Mnookin was interviewed by the NYTimes Dealbook about the recent deal made allowing iTunes to sell music by the Beatles.
“Professor Mnookin noted that he often tells his students, ‘Before you go into any negotiation, any party should ask, what are my interests, what do I care about, and what are my alternatives … Read More
PON Chair Robert Mnookin Featured in Detroit Free Press Discussing DSO Strike
PON Chair Robert Mnookin was interviewed by the Detroit Free Press about the Detroit Symphony Orchestra musician’s strike, which began October 4th.
To read the full article, click here.
… Read More
Conquering the Challenges in the Toughest Negotiations
Negotiating with an adversary you don’t trust or who you think may be out to harm you requires a special set of skills. Your tone and language are just two key components. In a recent interview on the PBS NewsHour, Robert Mnookin, chair of the Program on Negotiation and author of Bargaining With the Devil, … Read More
Video of Professor Mnookin’s Interview on PBS
PON Chair, Professor Robert Mnookin was featured last night on the PBS NewsHour. He discusses the art of doing difficult negotiations during tough economic times.
To learn more about Professor Mnookin’s recent book, “Bargaining with the Devil: When to Negotiate, When to Fight,” click here.
To watch more PON videos, click here.
… Read Video of Professor Mnookin’s Interview on PBS
TONIGHT- Professor Robert Mnookin to be Featured on PBS
PON Chair, Professor Robert Mnookin will be featured on the PBS NewsHour tonight discussing his recent book, “Bargaining with the Devil: When to Negotiate, When to Fight.”
To find your local PBS schedule and channel, click here and enter your zip code.
To read more about “Bargaining with the Devil,” click here.
… Read More
NYTimes Article Highlights Kagan’s Dilemma at Harvard Law School
A New York Times article published May 6 highlights the dilemma Supreme Court nominee and former dean of Harvard Law School Elena Kagan faced over whether to allow the military to recruit at Harvard Law School.
Professor Robert Mnookin, head of PON is quoted saying “Elena is very good at reading the lay of the land, … Read More
Mnookin interviewed about Kagan nomination
PON Chair, Robert Mnookin was interviewed yesterday about the nomination of former Harvard Law School Dean, Elena Kagan. Click here to read the article.
… Read Mnookin interviewed about Kagan nomination
Prof. Robert Mnookin featured in Harvard Gazette
Professor Robert Mnookin was featured in the print version of the Harvard Gazette in February 2010. Prof. Mnookin’s new book, “Bargaining with the Devil: When to Negotiate, When to Fight” was featured in the Gazette’s book section Harvard Bound in the February 18-25 issue.
Please click here for the full article.
… Read Prof. Robert Mnookin featured in Harvard Gazette
Prof. Robert Mnookin on “All things considered” on NPR
On February 13, 2010, Prof. Robert Mnookin was interviewed on National Public Radio’s show, “All things considered” about his new book, “Bargaining with the Devil: When to Negotiate, When to Fight”. Click here to hear the interview or read the transcript.
… Read More
Bargaining with the Devil
Professor Robert Mnookin, Chair of the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School, published an article for the Foreign Policy online magazine this week based on his new book, “Bargaining with the Devil: When to Negotiate, When to Fight.” The article discusses how President Obama should deal with the evils he is confronted with.
Click here … Read Bargaining with the Devil
PON Professor Mnookin’s New Book Highlighted in NY Times
Professor Robert Mnookin’s “Bargaining with the Devil: When to Negotiate, When to Fight,” was highlighted in Richard Bernstein’s New York Times article, “Is it Time to Engage the Taliban?” Published yesterday, Bernstein uses Professor Mnookin’s most recent book as a framework to discuss whether now is the time for the Obama administration to negotiate with … Read More
Prof. Robert Mnookin Featured on Harvard Law School’s Website Homepage
Professor Robert Mnookin, Chair of the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School is featured on the Harvard Law School website homepage this week.
… Read More
Should you bargain with the Devil?
In an age of terror, our national leaders face this sort of question every day. Should we negotiate with the Taliban? Iran? North Korea? What about terrorist groups holding hostages?”
In his new book, Bargaining with the Devil: When to Negotiate, When to Fight, Robert Mnookin, Chair of the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School, … Read Should you bargain with the Devil?
Join PON to Celebrate the Publication of Professor Robert Mnookin’s New Book “Bargaining with the Devil”
On Thursday, February 4, 2010, join us to celebrate the publication of Professor Robert Mnookin’s new book Bargaining with the Devil: When to Negotiate, When to Fight. This event is co-sponsored by Harvard Law School, the Program on Negotiation, and Facing History and Ourselves.
The evening will begin with a reception at 5:30 PM in Ropes … Read More
Friends of Negotiation Journal Gather to Celebrate its 25th Anniversary
Friends of Negotiation Journal – current and former editors, advisory board members, frequent authors and reviewers, and Program on Negotiation stalwarts who were there at its founding – gathered last week at Harvard to celebrate the journal’s 25th year and 100th issue.
The event was hosted by journal editor Michael Wheeler and PON executive committee chair … Read More
PON Creates Its First YouTube Video
Thousands of people every year come to Program on Negotiation Seminars from around the world. Professor Robert Mnookin, PON Faculty Chair, describes what you will experience at a Negotiation Seminar.
To apply now, click here.
… Read PON Creates Its First YouTube Video
Negotiating the Toughest Challenges in U.S.-Muslim Relations: From Peace in the Middle East to Talks with the Taliban
Join the Program on Negotiation for a discussion on major challenges facing the U.S. as it tries to improve relations with key Muslim countries embroiled in regional conflicts. Key questions include whether and how to negotiate with armed non-state groups, how to engage effectively with fractious and failing governments, and how to manage influential constituencies … Read More
Negotiating the Financial Crisis
Panelists will discuss the negotiation challenges presented by the banking crisis, GM’s restructuring, and the policy making process.
Moderator:
Robert Mnookin, Chair of the Program on Negotiation and Samuel Williston Professor of Law at Harvard Law School
Panelists:
Howell Jackson, Acting Dean and Professor, Harvard Law School
Robert Pozen, Chairman of MFS Investment Management and Senior Lecturer of Business Administration … Read Negotiating the Financial Crisis
Negotiation and Leadership
NEGOTIATION MASTER CLASS
Negotiation Essentials Online
Beyond the Back Table: Working with People and Organizations to Get to Yes
Articles & Insights
BATNA
- Business Negotiations
- Conflict Resolution
- Crisis Negotiations
- Dealing with Difficult People
- Dealing with challenging negotiators
- Negotiating with Difficult Personalities and “Dark” Personality Traits
- M&A Negotiation Strategy: Dealing with an Unpredictable Counterpart
- Bargaining in Bad Faith: Dealing with “False Negotiators”
- Dealing with Difficult People and Negotiation: When Should You Give Up the Fight?
- Dealmaking
- Dispute Resolution
- International Negotiation
- Leadership Skills
- Mediation
- AI Mediation: Using AI to Help Mediate Disputes
- How Mediation Can Help Resolve Pro Sports Disputes
- Mediation Training: What Can You Expect?
- Undecided on Your Dispute Resolution Process? Combine Mediation and Arbitration, Known as Med-Arb
- Types of Mediation: Choose the Type Best Suited to Your Conflict
- Negotiation Skills
- Negotiation Training
- Trust in Negotiation: Does Gender Matter?
- Negotiation Training: What’s Special About Technology Negotiations?
- Cole Cannon Esq. Shares His Negotiation and Leadership Experience
- Gender and Negotiation: New Research Findings
- Ethics and Negotiation: 5 Principles of Negotiation to Boost Your Bargaining Skills in Business Situations
- Salary Negotiations
- Teaching Negotiation
- Act Now to Purchase Materials for Next Semester and Avoid a Price Increase
- Negotiating Identity and Values-Based Disputes
- Learn from the Best with the Great Negotiator Case Studies
- Casino Two: Updated Version of Casino Available from the TNRC
- Teach Your Students How to Have Difficult Conversations Over Email
- Win-Win Negotiations