Q: My husband and I would like to sell our condo and buy a house right away, but we need to save a bit more money, as we are slightly under water on our current mortgage and want to preserve our nest egg. Recently, however, an acquaintance of ours told us that he loves our … Read More

Following the British Petroleum oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in the spring of 2010, some media observers criticized President Barack Obama for seeming to be emotionally detached. Obama ultimately did display anger about the oil spill in a televised interview, only to be further critiqued on the grounds that his anger did not … Read More

With thorough preparation, the help of a trained mediator, and useful reports from subgroups, participants in a multiparty negotiation should be able to find their way to the trading zone. Once they’ve arrived, the next step is to work together to ensure that everyone’s interests are met. … Read Prospering in a Multiparty Trade Zone

Francesca Gino’s newest book, Sidetracked: Why Our Decisions Get Derailed and How We Can Stick to the Plan discusses a common shortcoming that we have all faced at some point in our lives – the inability to set a goal and stick to it.

Often when we set goals for ourselves we seek to rectify some … Read Sidetracked: Why and How We Decide to Act

On February 1, the Obama administration proposed a compromise to a federal policy requiring health insurance plans to provide free contraceptives to women.

The proposal would expand the number of groups that need not pay directly for birth control coverage, the New York Times reports. Some religiously affiliated hospitals, universities, and social service agencies would join … Read More

When you’re thinking about resolving a dispute in court, it’s crucial to remember that the decision that will be imposed on you is binding.

If blinders lead a judge to grant a motion that should be denied, deny a motion that should be granted, assign responsibility to the wrong party, or award too much or … Read Negotiate, Don’t Litigate

Concerns about status will arise in any negotiation. How can you deal with them, both in yourself and in others? The following six guidelines can help in virtually any context … Read Managing Status in Negotiation

When a negotiation reaches an impasse (or, preferably, sooner), it’s important to consider that you may be at the wrong table.

What other individuals or groups might be able to break the deadlock? Perhaps you should be talking to them instead. … Read Moving to a Different Table

On February 16, in the midst of the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) All-Star weekend, members of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) unanimously voted to oust Billy Hunter as the union’s executive director.

“This is our union and we have taken it back,” National Basketball Players Association president Derek Fisher said, as reported by ESPN.com. Fisher … Read More

An American company and a Japanese company formed a joint-venture to manufacture gauges and measurement equipment for sale in Asia. … Read Once a Quarter is Not Enough

When you’re making important decisions during a negotiation and have the luxury of time, what’s the alternative to Blink?

Should you completely ignore your rapid cognitions?

In the article “Strategies for Negotiating More Rationally,” we described University of Toronto professor Keith Stanovich and James Madison University professor Richard F. West’s distinction between System 1 and System … Read A Better Approach to Decision Making