Welcome to the Program on Negotiation (PON)

The Program on Negotiation (PON) is a university consortium dedicated to developing the theory and practice of negotiation and dispute resolution. As a community of scholars and practitioners, PON serves a unique role in the world negotiation community. Founded in 1983 as a special research project at Harvard Law School, PON includes faculty, students, and staff from Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Tufts University.

At PON, we are committed to developing the theory and practice of negotiation, to nurturing the next generation of negotiation teachers and scholars, and to helping students become more effective negotiators. We accomplish this through research, seminars, courses, conferences, publications and special events.

We believe that negotiation is an art and a science. Through different lenses, including law, business, government, psychology, economics, anthropology, the arts, and education, members of the PON community seek to better understand negotiations. Why did a deal not close that would have benefited both companies? Why did one country resolve differences peacefully, while another fought a bloody civil war? Why are some divorcing couples able to mediate their separation amicably, while others fight painfully and expensively in court?

There will always be conflict. In fact, many remark ruefully that conflict is a “growth industry.” Knowing how to negotiate to solve problems, make deals, build consensus, avoid violence, and manage intractable disputes is a competency that is vitally needed in the world.

The goal of reducing conflict and violence can seem like an impossible dream. At PON, we have the privilege of doing work in service to that mission, believing that increasing our understanding of negotiation and conflict management is one essential step forward.

Finally, welcome to our website. We invite you to explore the many resources it offers, and to find ways to connect to PON and each other whether you are a faculty member, student, practitioner, or a member of the public developing a budding interest in the field of negotiation and conflict resolution.

Guhan Subramanian
Joseph Flom Professor of Law and Business Harvard Law School, H. Douglas Weaver Professor of Business Law Harvard Business School, Harvard Law School Chair, Program on Negotiation

Nicole Bryant
Managing Director, Program on Negotiation
Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School

Office Address:
Pound Hall 501
1563 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

Mailing Address:
501 Pound Hall
1563 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

pon@law.harvard.edu
tel 1-800-391-8629 (Outside the U.S.: +1-301-528-2676)
fax 617-495-7818

To download a copy of the 2017-2018 PON Annual Report please click here.