CIPS Negotiation Challenge 2014
First Round
Dilemmas
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Party Animal
You are in negotiation with your flatmates, trying hard to convince them you
should have a party at your house on on Saturday. You have been revising hard
for crucial exams and feel you all deserve “just one night off”. You have
presented your case well and think they might agree but an uneasy silence has
developed as they look at each other to see who is going to respond. Which of
the following would you do and in what order?
1. Go over your argument again
2. Ask them a question
3. Stress that if ALL your friends are invited it will be the best houseparty
ever
4. Smile gently and say nothing
5. Excuse yourself for a comfort break for a couple of minutes.
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Take it or leave it
You are out shopping with a friend and see a great shirt which you have your
heart set on. However, the shirt on display is the only one in your size and has
a small black mark on the collar. You request a discount and the sales assistant
wants more for the shirt than you suggest. In order of priority which of the
following would you do?
1. Ask for five minutes to think and discuss with your friend
2. Accept the deal
3. Stay silent, smile and maintain eye contact
4. Ask to speak to the manager
5. Try to make him/her feel unreasonable
6. Say ‘No’ and decline.
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Still apart
You need to replace your laptop prior to starting University. You are in a
negotiation in ‘Laptop World’ proposing a discount plus extras. The sales
assistant insists it would be very difficult to give any discount so only token
movement has been made. What would be the order of your preference of
these 6 possible courses of action?
1. Ask a friend to return to the shop with you for moral support
2. Agree to move considerably from your opening proposal
3. Agree to move slightly from your opening proposal
4. Allow the negotiation to go to deadlock and return home without the
laptop
5. Be open about your feelings and the lack of movement
6. Explain to the sales assistant your reasons for asking for a discount
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Fair and reasonable
You are buying your first car with your savings. You have set your mind on a
particular second hand model and have obtained prices from three garages.
Garage
Price
A
£5100
B
£5300
C
£5295
Write down your negotiation objectives for each garage – (three actual
amounts, an Ideal price, a realistic price and a walk away price. The various
features of the purchase (tax, mot, car mats, fuel etc) are identical for each.
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A testing phone-in
You are home alone and receive a phone call from your mobile phone provider
about this years price increase. Which would you do and in what order?
1. Stay on the line in order to ascertain the specific details
2. Suggest you will go into your local mobile phone shop to discuss the
situation
3. Tell the caller you will not be accepting any price increases
4. Request they send you the relevant information through the post or via
email
5. Express your disappointment and mention that you wanted to stay a loyal
customer but this would make you consider taking your custom to another
provider.
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Signal, manoeuvre
You and 6 friends are enjoying an evening meal at the local Italian restaurant.
The main meal was great but the service was poor and desert took over an
hour to arrive. You complain and request a reduction in the bill. Which of the
following responses suggests the waiter is prepared to reduce the cost of your
meal?
1. We are prepared to offer you a free soft drink on the house but a
reduction in the bill would be very difficult
2. Our standard policy is to apologise and offer a free drink on the house
3. Please accept our apologies. We do not give discounts as it is against
company policy.
4. I wouldn’t be in a position to offer you a discount I’m afraid
5. As you ate everything and haven’t mentioned the service until now it’s
almost impossible for me to pass a reduction through the till.
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