Understanding and Negotiating Sustainability Issues

by Morrison, Judith; Coxhill, Matthew

• ISBN13: 9780734611628
• ISBN10: 0734611625
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2013-12-30
• Publisher: Casemate Pub & Book Dist Llc

Summary

Negotiators in today's complex decision-making and planning environments need more than natural, intuitive ability and good intentions. They need specialized training and skills to anticipate, and hopefully avoid, some of the communication traps that undermine problem-solving processes involving a range of stakeholders. The area of sustainability is particularly subject to differing views. While there are many books that address how to develop policy around sustainability work practices, none address how to manage differing viewpoints. Understanding and Negotiating Sustainability Issuesimproves the reader's capacity to communicate ideas about sustainability especially with people who look at problems from very different perspectives. This book helps the reader: develop a better understanding of the principles of sustainability; develop the capacity to make workplace sustainability assessments; plan for participation in decision-making/problem-solving processes; develop the capacity to predict and alleviate the risks that can undermine cross-sectoral negotiation; and engender an interest in maintaining sustainable relationships. Cross-sectoral and cross-cultural consultations and negotiations require competencies and skills well beyond those required for day-to-day engagement within one particular work sector or industry or one particular cultural context. Understanding and Negotiating Sustainability Issuesestablishes a general framework through which to assess what skills are most crucial in a particular type of negotiation scenario and how they might be utilized.