Skip to main content icon/video/no-internet

This first edition of Communication and Negotiation, edited by Linda L. Putnam and Michael E. Roloff, provides a much needed discussion of the links between communication and negotiation … In fact, this text would be an excellent resource guide for psychologists, social psychologists, psychotherapists, and marriage counselors, as well as all other parties interested in managing conflict through negotiation.” –Contemporary Psychology “References to contributors … for whom applied issues in industrial relations have been to the fore–are fairly frequent. This is testimony to the sheer thoroughness of the organization of the book, and to the conscientious approach of the authors commissioned to write the relevant separate chapters…. This book is a useful pointer to the knowledge we have to hand.” –The Occupational Psychologist “This publication is a profound review of the state of the art of that speciality of communication research which deals with human negotiation or bargaining activities…. [The book] provides an interesting and well-structured entry to the understanding of the variety of factors involved in the communication processes that constitute a two-party negotiation. To LIS researchers, in particular in the fields of information management and information (seeking) behavior, this publication may offer important insights and methodologies as well as novel ideas with respect to investigating particular phenomena occurring prior to, during, or preceding the use of information (retrieval) systems…. Communication and Negotiation is a useful companion to researchers who wish to dig deeper into empirical and theoretical investigations of the aspects of the negotiation processes…. Communication and Negotiation brings forth many ideas relevant to LIS research, and within its firm communication approach the publication serves well as a profound review of research in a historical context of the negotiation and bargaining phenomena.” –The Library Quarterly “Communication and Negotiation is volume 20 in Sage's Annual Reviews of Communication Research series, and offers the professional presentation and excellent quality one would expect from a work that is part of such a long tradition…. This volume offers quite a valuable summary of the state of the art in communication theory as it applies to negotiation. Researchers in other primary disciplines need to be aware of this work as it overlaps heavily with other disciplinary viewpoints….” –The Alternative Newsletter In recent years, a number of universities have established formal centers for studying conflict and dispute resolution. Scholars, too, have created new journals to focus exclusively on the study of conflict processes. Communication and Negotiation provides a synthesis of the research in this area by consolidating alternative perspectives on communication and negotiation, reviewing the work of noted communication scholars, and suggesting directions for future research. Contributors explore three major aspects of negotiation communication: a) strategies, tactics, and negotiation processes; b) interpretive processes and language analysis; and c) negotiation situation and context. In addition, these studies examine bargaining planning, frames and reframing, and relational communication with opponents, constituents, and audiences. A showcase for communication scholars as well as an extremely useful reference book for negotiation theorists, Communication and Negotiation is one of those rare books with wide interdisciplinary appeal. Scholars and students in political science, psychology, economics, management and organizational behavior, sociology, law, and industrial relations as well as the communications fields will especially profit from this remarkable new collection.

Negotiator-Constituent Relationships

Negotiator-constituent relationships
DudleyB.Turner

Intra-organizational bargaining is a rich untapped domain for communication research.

—L. L. Putnam, 1985a, p. 236

THE VAST MAJORITY of research in bargaining and negotiation focuses on the two negotiators at the bargaining table, specifically, their actions and interactions and their outcomes. However, negotiators usually act as representatives who are influenced not only by the negotiating situation but also by their constituents (Druckman, 1977; Roloff & Campion, 1987). Viewing the negotiator as a representative adds complexity to the bargaining process. Rubin and Brown (1975) point out that simply having an audience physically or psychologically present affects the negotiator. Thus, concentrating primarily on the negotiator at the bargaining table limits an understanding of the overall negotiation process (Frey & Adams, 1972).

Druckman (1978a) claims that a negotiator's interaction with his or her constituents and with the opposing negotiator “are not regarded as being mutually exclusive during the course of a negotiation. They are complementary and intertwined, the one influencing the other in a reciprocal manner” (p. 108). Since negotiation at the table often hinges on communication activities in caucus sessions, research should focus on bargainer-constituent interactions (Putnam & Jones, 1982b). Putnam (1985a) proposes, “To understand the basis of interaction sequences at the table, researchers must extend their work beyond the bargaining dyad into the intergroup relations that constitute the negotiation event” (p. 236).

Much of what occurs in caucuses includes the process of reaching internal consensus between the negotiator and his or her constituents on what is an acceptable agreement with the other party. This process is often referred to as intraorganizational bargaining (Druckman, 1977; Walton & McKersie, 1965). No matter where the parties begin and no matter how diverse the ideas are within a party, negotiators and their constituents must come to an agreement before bargaining can be successfully completed. More than simply representing their constituents’ desires, negotiators also mold and change their constituents’ positions (Putnam, 1985b; Walton & McKersie, 1965).

Unfortunately, little research exists in this area. Communication studies of bargaining and negotiation often center on the strategies and tactics used at the table (Donohue, 1981a, 1981b; Pruitt & Lewis, 1975; Putnam & Jones, 1982a), but they rarely address the negotiator's interaction with his or her constituents nor the strategies and tactics used in caucus sessions.

This chapter examines the negotiator as a boundary role occupant who tries to balance the needs and desires of his or her constituents with the desires of the other party. After an overview of the boundary role literature, this essay reviews specific research concerning negotiator-constituent relations and message tactics.

A Boundary Role Perspective

A role consists of a set of activities or potential behaviors associated with a person's job or position in an organization (Kahn, Wolfe, Quinn, Snoek, & Rosenthal, 1964). Walton and McKersie (1965) describe a role as “a set of complementary expectations … prescribed by someone or some group” (pp. 283–284). Persons related to and affected by a particular role's activities are called the role set (Katz & Kahn, 1978; Kahn et al., 1964). A person's role set obviously includes other members of the same organization and may include persons outside of the organization. When role senders are located in a different social system or organization from the focal person, the focal person functions in a boundary role (Kahn et al., 1964).

...

  • Loading...
locked icon

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

  • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
  • Read modern, diverse business cases
  • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles

Sage Recommends

We found other relevant content for you on other Sage platforms.

Loading