QUOTABLE QUOTES
‘This has been the best course I have ever attended - it is very practical and useful. '
Public Accountant
'I am quite sure that my negotiating skills have improved. I now feel much more confident in handling difficult negotiation scenarios.'
Company Manager
'Of all the 'best courses' I've been to', this three-day workshop was outstanding! Undoubtedly, unreservedly, by far the best. I'm gob-smacked!'
Senior Exploration Geologist
'I would like to express my deep gratitude to you for the course you taught in Moscow this summer. I use your techniques all the time with a great success. Today I won an important deal using your approaches and strategies. Again, thank you very much!
Partner Top Accounting Firm
'Best features: relevance, clear presentation, use of humour, good teamwork by the two leaders. A really professional job. Well done!
Managing Director'
‘Recently I persuaded a group of our managers to attend an ENS three-day Open Program. All came back with the most positive comments - the program flowed and flew, the content was common sense but so well structured, the case studies were fantastic, the program leaders built in the participants within the program, the program leaders were excellent, we can use this all the time. Well done ENS!'.
HR Director
'The workshop has direct relevance to actual negotiating problems and my day-to-day activities. It has provided me with useful business tools...'
Public Servant
'My experience with ENS Consultants: They are state of the art - flexible, creative and multi-dimensional, pragmatic and clearly bottom-line focused’.
International Client
SUCCESS STORIES
Negotiation as a tool in introducing change
1. A particular resource company wanted to become non-union because of the risk of wider industry disputes impacting on them, even if they were 'clean'. They also needed to reduce the workforce significantly. It was agreed that the consultant would meet with the chief executive, the senior operations manager, and the senior industrial manager as a group. This was to be done over a number of weekends so that no suspicions or leakage could occur.
2. We initially re-examined the objective, then confirmed it. We reviewed all the parties who would have a stake or interest and developed a strategy and tactics to manage them on a critical path schedule. In reviewing risk points it was necessary to simplify processes and methodology as to how supervisors would initiate change and then respond to the concerns of subordinates.
3. In an industry prone to disputes, the objectives were achieved over a time scale of one year without union stoppages.
Price is rarely the only issue
1. The company had an on-going major contract in Japan . The Japanese economy had contracted and the Japanese company wanted our client to share the pain. This was their second move after winning an earlier price reduction. They had asked the client team to be in Japan in two weeks and the only issue for discussion was price. We were called in at this point.
2. After an initial discussion and analysis, the client asked for our comments. Our initial response was: 'under no circumstances should the company go to discuss only price'. This was a long-term relationship and was important to both parties. Our strategy was developed around giving the Japanese company a clearer understanding of our circumstances. We were unwilling to discuss price unless the length of contract volumes, shipment batches, payment terms, quality issues etc were discussed first. Price flexibility could then be dealt with better within that context. The Japanese company resisted discussing issues other than price. However, non-price issues took the first day and a half of the negotiation.
3. The result was a better understanding of the issues and a package approach. This gave us better outcomes
because we had identified more options than those available on a simple price negotiation.
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