What are Coalitions in a Negotiation?

Coalitions are a (sub)group of two or more individuals who join together in using their resources to affect the outcome of a decision in a mixed-motive situation. 

Some key challenges to negotiating as a coalition include:

• Optimal coalition size - How do you determine the appropriate number of members?
• Trust and Temptation - Coalitions are plagues with issues surrounding trust for members and the level of dedication that they have to the group. Some recognized tendencies in this regard include:
  • Status quo bias - A tendency in decision making and negotiation to prefer current circumstances over proposed new ones.
  • Coalitional integrity - The tendency for parties to remain loyal to a coalition, even when they can obtain more resources outside of that coalition.
• Dividing the pie - How do you divide the fruits of the negotiation among members? 
  • Ex. Accounting for low-power players

Tactics for Effective Coalitions

Some tactics generally understood to maximize the effectiveness of a coalition include:

• Making contacts early - Early coalitions are able to more effectively align resource allocation and interests.
• Seeking verbal commitments - Seeking verbal commitments to a cause or plan of action increases the likelihood of success by aligning interests and minimizing the likelihood of defection.
• Avoiding bias - Coalitions are generally built around a commonality of understanding. Using unbiased-appearing rationale to divide the pie. This can avoid alienating coalition members based upon principle.
• Sharing all relevant information - Coalitions are built upon mutual understanding. Sharing all information relevant to all parties interests and objectives will aid in this understanding.
• Focusing on interests, not positions - Focusing on positions creates a confrontational environment. This can reduce cooperation and lead to purely competitive tactics. As such, it becomes more difficult to reach integrative results.
• Testing assumptions and inferences - Validating key assumptions about ones position can help individuals more fully understand and articulate their position. It can also aid the development of a common understanding between coalition members.
• Seeking consensus - Try to make certain there is consensus among members about intent and procedural objectives and in decision making. Try to avoid disagreeing openly with any member of the group.
• Explaining ones self - It can be highly beneficial to explain the reasons behind ones actions and statements. It builds upon the commonality of understanding necessary for effective coalitions. Be as specific as possible and use examples to aid in understanding. It may be advantageous to make statements that invite questions and comments. You may also want to engage in open self critique.
• Seeking participation - The leader of the coalition should seek to have all members participate in all phases of the process. This often requires considerable organization and checks to make certain all parties are heard and considered.
• Handling conflict - Jointly design ways to test disagreements and solutions. This may include developing a path or process for discussing undiscussable issues.
• Avoiding distraction - There are any number of distractions that can derail a negotiation involving a coalition. Try to keep the discussion focused. This may mean not stirring up side controversies or making personal attacks that otherwise distract the group.

Related Topics

• What are multi-party negotiations and how do they affect the negotiation process?
• How does one manage the various stages of a multiparty negotiation?
• What are coalitions and how do they affect negotiations?
• What is a principal-agent relationship and how does it affect a negotiation?
• What is a constituent relationship and how does it affect negotiation?
• What are team negotiations and how do they affect the negotiation process?
• What are intergroup negotiations, and how do they affect a negotiation?