Negotiation Step 2: Establish a Position

This is the second step in strategic negotiation, establishing a position. To review step one of the strategic negotiation process, please head on to Negotiation Step 1: Pitching an Idea.

Here, Mike is talking with colleagues Grant and Tess, and they are trying to work out an initial position before heading into the negotiation with NVP.

STUDENT TASK 1

Listen to the dialogue and fill in the missing word(s) below. Copy paste this link onto your web browser to answer the task on google forms (https://forms.gle/E25biVX6gRpiqbP69).

Grant: Alright folks. Let see what we can _________ here. Tess jump in whenever.

Tess: uh-huh…

Grant: Now I’ve seen the __________ on the emails since we kicked this into play. But Mike what’s your _________ all of this?

Mike: Well, we all agreed that NVP is our __________ in Southeast Asia huge volume, huge network, a really strong foothold in Thailand and Malaysia, which was our _________ in all of this.

Grant: Yes indeed. Good point. But I think as you’ve seen they’re really ___________ more than Southeast Asia. It’s obvious they’re pushing for a ______________, the whole of Asia really. And so the issue there is China?

Tess: We’re talking about Hangshan Motors, right. I __________________________ for something untested a burden in the hand as they say.

Mike: Well I think maybe there’s a way around this. If we buy them out, ______________________ the NVP deal in three years just from China alone. Opening up the rest of Asia on top of that puts us well ahead of the game.

Tess: I see. So you’re suggesting we get out of our existing agreement? You know… if we’re talking about a broader partnership…_________________________________. Lots of different possibilities here, I was thinking of South America in particular.

Grant: Right. So _______________________________________. We’re game for a partnership, we need Southeast Asia for sure… we’ll say we’re prepared to buy out Hangshan when they push for that and _________________________________ our South American channels later.

Tess: Yes! I think __________________________________. But we’ll have to look into our agreements with Brazil and Argentina more closely first. I __________________________ with hundred percent confidence right now.

Mike: Yeah, definitely. And when we talk with them let’s get on the same page about partnering, then… wait for Lisa to start pushing the whole Pan-Asian thing. We can play that a bit slow and see what we can squeeze out of them… and _____________________________________ until later… sound like a plan?

Grant: I think that will work. We know they want to work with us and I think we’ve got a __________________________.

STUDENT TASK 2

In the video there are three guide questions to answer. Complete this task after listening to the dialogue, and discuss your answers with your teacher.

Guide Questions

1. Why does Mike mention NVP’s huge volume, huge network, and strong foothold in SE Asia?
2. What does Mike suggest as a way around the China problem?
3. Which idea does the team agree to save for later in the negotiation?

STUDENT TASK 3

Acquaint yourself with the business vocabulary and idioms mentioned in the dialogue, and use them in sentences.

Instructions

Copy paste this list on a word file
Define the vocabulary and idioms
Use each of them in at least two sentences
Submit your answer on google classroom

For example

vocabulary/idioms	definition	sentences
back and forth	to and fro	He has been anxiously walking back and forth.

vocabulary/idioms	definition	sentences
best bet
take on
kick into play
jump in
keen on
give up
burden in the hand
a way around
buy out
ahead of the game
game for
way forward
on the same page
squeeze out
sit on