Introduction to Negotiation and Collaborative Problem Solving

This course meets at the Kennedy School of Government\’ please consulty their web site for meeting place.A broad introduction to the theory and practice of negotiation, along with related problem-solving skills, such as consensus building, participatory planning, alliance building, and organizing. The art and science of community problem solving includes a flexible skill set applicable in a wide variety of situations, in all three sectors (public/private/nonprofit) and across them, and in most corners of the globe. Students will become familiar with tools for analyzing and acting on: the structure of a variety of negotiation, mediation, planning, and consensus building situations; the building and breaking of coalitions; assessing and organizing parties, interests, and power relations; and cross-cultural and gender factors. Includes U.S. and international cases.