The effects of urgency to reach agreement on the process and outcome of multi-party natural resource negotiations

International Journal of Organizational Theory and Behavior
By: , and 

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Abstract

We studied seven hydropower license consultations to examine the role of a sense of urgency to reach agreement. Hydropower licensing consultations were studied because the statutory requirement for consultation encourages negotiation, all such consultations are similar, and a negotiated settlement is not a foregone result. Cases selected for analysis met screening criteria. Structured interviews were conducted with participants after the negotiations had been concluded. Respondent recollections were checked against the documentary record. A sense of urgency to reach agreement was a significant factor in the completion of these negotiations; where there was no shared sense of urgency, purposeful delay adversely affected the negotiations. Although a sense of urgency was experienced by at least one party in each case, only a shared sense of urgency at the end of the process proved significant. Delay did not prevent ultimate agreement but a shared sense of urgency brought speedier agreement and greater satisfaction with the negotiation.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title The effects of urgency to reach agreement on the process and outcome of multi-party natural resource negotiations
Series title International Journal of Organizational Theory and Behavior
DOI 10.1108/IJOTB-08-03-2005-B004
Volume 8
Issue 3
Year Published 2005
Language English
Publisher Emerald Insight
Contributing office(s) Fort Collins Science Center
Description 24 p.
First page 372
Last page 395
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