Option #1: Pacific Oil Case Study Tanya Schankel MGT470 - Conflict Management and Negotiation Colorado State University - Global Campus Dr. Bonnie Adams December 25, 2016 Option #1: Pacific Oil Case Study The value of being prepared cannot be overstated when it comes to negotiations. Failure to understand one 's best alternative to a negotiated agreement (BATNA) options is one example of poor planning that can leave a party at the mercy of another. Such is the case of the Pacific Oil Company (POC) case study where POC and Reliant Corporation worked together to negotiate a business contract for the supply and purchase of a vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) product. The negotiation process did not go as planned, and the following will explain the case overview, provide insight to the various negotiation styles and tactics utilized in the negotiation process, and explore the anticipated outcome of the contract negotiations. Case Overview In the case of POC, POC was aware that the company expected to have a surplus of VCM in the years to come. In an effort to shield itself from having to negotiate a contract with Reliant during an unadvantageous time, it opened the negotiations with Reliant years before the current contract was to expire. Jean Fontaine and Paul Gaudin of POC worked with Frederich Hauptmann and Egon Zinnser from Reliant to negotiation a new contract. Fontaine and Gaudin (F&G) anticipated no major issues with the negotiations and were taken by surprise when
Becky Price replaced her oil furnace with a propane furnace back in 2006, but the oil furnace’s pipes were still in place. Price canceled her contract for oil refills with High Pointe Oil Company, but there was a problem on November 2007, in which Price’s address was added to the list of oil fill ups and the truck driver filled up the oil pipes with 400 gallons of fuel oil which caused the destruction of Price’s house and her belongings. So, Price sued the company for the failure of not removing the oil furnace’s pipes, including for non-economic damages such as emotions and feelings.
1. How did you plan for the negotiation? Explain how you decided on a strategy?
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The TexasAgs oil company case study gave us insights on different aspects of a negotiation that can happen in real world scenarios. It elegantly portrayed the importance of having a BATNA, setting target and restriction points, impact of the fluctuating markets on the ongoing negotiations, downside of the emotional behavior, importance of having a third party member or mediator in the negotiation. The case illustrates that the negotiations should be based assumptions as they may or may not be right. Having facts and understanding the other parties true objectives and goals are truly essential in negotiation. It is a typical example of how the current power on one side can dominate and take complete advantage of their position.
b) Another alternative should be using the negotiation method in order to develop a “win-win” situation. A negotiating party would have to be applied, “When a long period of time is required to produce the items purchased” (p 375). In these circumstances, suitable economic price adjustment clauses must be negotiated. Opportunities for various improvements may develop, such as the new manufacturing methods, new packaging possibilities, substitute materials, new plant layouts, and new tools. Negotiation permits an examination and evaluation of all these potential improvements. Competitive bidding does not. The advantage would be assurance of a long-term business with the Company along with reasonable profit for the supplier and reasonable cost for the buyer.
The case study on Pacific Oil Company shows from beginning to end the role of power in the outcome of a negotiation. From the beginning, the problem that Pacific Oil Company faced as it reopened negotiations with Reliant Chemical Company was that they did not assert the power necessary to really end up with the outcome of the negotiation they were hoping for. The case study points out several factors that Pacific Oil Company is trying to achieve in the contract negotiations with Reliant Chemical company: the change to a surplus of VCM in the market, the possibility of Pacific Oil needing a supply of their own of VCM to produce their own PVC, and the start-up of several other companies in the production of VCM (Lewiski, n.d.). These
The Deontological ethics is marked by steadfastness to universal principles—for example, respect for life, fairness, telling the truth, keeping promises—no matter what the consequences (Halbert, Law & Ethics in the Business Environment. pg. 17).
In any negotiation, preparation is crucial; and having a set, outlined process to follow when preparing helps mitigate a potential oversight of any significant issues within the negotiation. Following a set process also helps one stay on task and in-line with what the important issues and factors are in a negotiation. In Bargaining for Advantage, G. Richard Shell provides a well-structured framework to follow in planning for a negotiation. For this reason, I used Shell’s negotiation preparation framework to plan for the negotiation between Rapid Printing Company (Rapid) and Scott Computers, Inc (Scott).
Negotiations are a part of daily life whether we are aware of them occurring or not. In everything that we do there are preferred end results and the end results are likely to affect more than one person. The goal in this however, is to ensure that all parties are equally benefited from the actions and reactions that occur to create that end result. While some dealings are done in a more subtle manner without a great deal of negotiation per say there are other situations that would warrant more vocalized mutually acceptable compromises. The purpose of this paper will be to effectively explain a situation of which required negotiation on the part of both parties that almost all of us have endured and that would be the process of buying a
1. Evaluate the economics of Gulf's exploration and development program in net present value terms. How do Gulf's outlay for exploration and development compare to cash returns Gulf generates from these activities.
In other words, Reliant was a major customer. Perhaps if Pacific Oil focused on increasing their smaller business relationships would prevent them from large losses in negotiating. Then, Pacific Oil's decision to not proceed with manufacturing their own PVC might not have been a very good decision. If the decision was made because it was determine not to be lucrative, maybe all avenues were not addressed, such as outsourcing. This could have given Pacific Oil the power of competition. If they would have proceeded with the manufacturing venture, they would be less dependent on Reliant as a customer. The power advantage would then shift from Reliant to Pacific Oil. Pacific Oil could also approach the various competition to get an advantage over Reliant's threat to take their business somewhere else. Pacific Oil also could have gained some advantage by encouraging Reliant to address all of their issues up front by asking more questions about their concerns (Lewicki, Saunders & Barry, 2011). Finally, conducting all of the negotiations away from Pacific Oil's main office diminished some of their power. Having some higher leadership more engaged in the negotiating process could have diminished some of Reliant's power advantage through perception. Reliant was in a position to demand more
In Energetics meets Generex negotiation, I was acting as a Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Energetics Corporation and my opponent and my classmate Chace Eskam was acting as a COO of Generex Corporation. In this deal, as a COO I was supposed to sell the Wind energy division of the Energetics to Generex. Energetics Corporation was in desperate need of cash due to bankruptcy. Another hurdle was that I could not sell three different locations of Wind plants individually. My company needed cash within three months with no additional terms added to this deal. My another best alternative was to sell all the assets of Wind Energy division to generate some cash if deal with Generex fails in this negotiation. Our negotiation went on for 15-20 minutes during class time and deal was set in $247 millions. My opponent Chace was very tough in this negotiation to deal. He was very prepared with facts and numbers before he came to the table. My opponent asked me lot questions such as the depreciation of the property, equipment’s life, taxes etc. After having lot of discussion we ultimately came to the conclusion that Generex will pay Energetics $247 million right away in cash to purchase Wind Energy division from Energetics.
(Lewicki, 2010, p. 585) Fontaine and Gaudin did not prepared to negotiate the full contract. They did not anticipate nor prepare to resolve additional issues. Due to their inexperience, Fontaine and Gaudin were not the correct pairing to conduct the renegotiation, as well, they did not have decision making authority. They had to contact senior level management in order to reach a final agreement. This delay extended the negotiation timeline. Adding to the already stressful situation, the prospect of losing Reliant as a consistent client prosed a potential major issue, especially relating to supply as it would be difficult to identify another client to fill the former demand level. Also, Pacific senior leaders delayed their decision to expand into PVC products, over a year. This delay created uncertainty with the forecast for VCM and derivate products, which had a negative marketing impact for one of the top essential products. Also, contributing to the list of weaknesses, Fontaine’s definition of a successful negotiation differed from the corporate office, in that, he linked a successful negotiation outcome to keeping Reliant as a client by extending the current terms of the contract, solely. However, just as important, Fontaine neglected to take into account all the other potential issues or points of
We used two analyses methods to identify background and to evaluate information that we have.
Fontaine's or Gaudin's had good bargaining techniques. In my opinion these employees did not have enough time on the job, experience or in the business Their preparation for negotiations with Relient was inadequate. Adequate preparation should include careful study of strengths and weakness of both side along with the study of the need of the other party and ways to satisfy those needs. Every time that Fontaine's and Gaudin's met with Relient they should of tried to aim high to successfully get a good