Negotiation vs Mediation As alternative dispute resolution
techniques, we have known negotiation and mediation for long,
long time now. Even in the time of kings and even before between
tribes, these were techniques that were based on give and take
to resolve bitter disputes. Disputes can turn into ugly spats
between individuals and even between big entities like companies
and even nations. Nations have gone into wars for the settlement
of their disputes that have resulted in loss of property and
lives which is why the methods of negotiation and mediation are
preferred by people. Because of similarities, people confuse
between negotiation and mediation, but there are subtle
differences that will be highlighted in this article. When you
go to market to buy a product and feel the asking price to be
bit higher, you negotiate and try to bring it down so that it is
within your range. So negotiation takes place between 2 people
where both lose something and settle for less than what they
desire. If there is a dispu