TY - JOUR

T1 - Negotiation complexity

T2 - a review and an integrative model

AU - Zhang, Hong

AU - Zhang, Kai

AU - Warsitzka, Marco

AU - Trötschel, Roman

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.

PY - 2021/7/27

Y1 - 2021/7/27

N2 - PurposeThis paper aims to review and synthesize the existing literature related to negotiation complexity and provides an integrative model to systematically identify and examine factors contributing to negotiation complexity and how they affect negotiating parties’ behaviors and economic and subjective outcomes.Design/methodology/approachThe approach was to combine relevant literature from negotiation in general and from negotiation complexity in particular and to develop and support an integrative model of complexity in real-world negotiations.FindingsThe literature on negotiation complexity and previous analytical frameworks are reviewed from a cross-disciplinary perspective. Based on the integrative review, an integrative model of negotiation complexity is proposed for identifying important complexity contributory factors. Six contributory factors are distinguished based on the three negotiation components – negotiation task, dynamic variables of negotiators and negotiation context. Their effects on negotiation complexity are examined and discussed with respect to four complexity dimensions (i.e. informational and computational, procedural, social and strategic dimensions). Finally, the effects of negotiation complexity on parties’ behaviors and outcomes are examined based on previous theoretical and empirical research and practical tools for managing negotiation complexity are delineated.Originality/valueThe integrative review and conceptualization of negotiation complexity are helpful for gaining a better understanding of negotiation complexity and its management in various real-world domains.

AB - PurposeThis paper aims to review and synthesize the existing literature related to negotiation complexity and provides an integrative model to systematically identify and examine factors contributing to negotiation complexity and how they affect negotiating parties’ behaviors and economic and subjective outcomes.Design/methodology/approachThe approach was to combine relevant literature from negotiation in general and from negotiation complexity in particular and to develop and support an integrative model of complexity in real-world negotiations.FindingsThe literature on negotiation complexity and previous analytical frameworks are reviewed from a cross-disciplinary perspective. Based on the integrative review, an integrative model of negotiation complexity is proposed for identifying important complexity contributory factors. Six contributory factors are distinguished based on the three negotiation components – negotiation task, dynamic variables of negotiators and negotiation context. Their effects on negotiation complexity are examined and discussed with respect to four complexity dimensions (i.e. informational and computational, procedural, social and strategic dimensions). Finally, the effects of negotiation complexity on parties’ behaviors and outcomes are examined based on previous theoretical and empirical research and practical tools for managing negotiation complexity are delineated.Originality/valueThe integrative review and conceptualization of negotiation complexity are helpful for gaining a better understanding of negotiation complexity and its management in various real-world domains.

KW - Psychology

KW - negotiating

KW - dimensions

KW - complexity

KW - contributors

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85106032566&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1108/ijcma-03-2020-0051

DO - 10.1108/ijcma-03-2020-0051

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 32

SP - 554

EP - 573

JO - International Journal of Conflict Management

JF - International Journal of Conflict Management

SN - 1044-4068

IS - 4

ER -