Friday, April 30, 2010

Polite Business Negotiations

Business negotiations are a reality of life for most professionals. But there's a world of difference between sensible negotiation ways and manipulative ploys.
Several people mistakenly place an excessive amount of energy into manipulating others to urge what they wish rather than strategizing to conduct a mutually respectful negotiation. We have a tendency to've all seen these manipulative ploys - behaviors designed to throw the other negotiator off-guard therefore he inadvertently agrees to things while emotionally unnerved. These embody maneuvers like deferring selections to the next authority to shop for time, requesting more at the top of the negotiation, artificially raising one's voice to challenge a stated value, or pitting offers against those of fictitious competitors.
The moral negotiator resists these shortcuts, and instead uses a professional and methodical approach. Here are nine tips to assist you succeed as a savvy, ethical negotiator:
o Plan your strategy. Know ahead of your time what you would like, what you think that you may get, and what your "walk away" position is. During the design part, set your aspirations as high as attainable and realize out as a lot of as you'll concerning the opposite negotiator. Ask yourself, "What can they possible open with or ask for during the meeting?"
o List your "bargaining currencies." Compile a listing of things you may use to cut price with during the negotiation in order to maneuver the discussion in an exceedingly favorable direction. Currencies will include the timing of a final transaction, the support and repair needed, or the number of units you'll take. The longer your list, the stronger your starting position.
o Analysis the opposite negotiator. Find out as abundant as possible concerning the other party beforehand. Is he/she a forceful negotiator? Will he/she have time constraints on the project? Is his/her company solidly in place or is it one that's still building a name? If you know the other negotiator's vogue you may be ready to change how you sometimes communicate during a means that flexes additional in the other person's direction, so improving rapport.
o Create a positive climate. Your goal when face-to-face with your negotiator is to be conversational, relational, and energetic. Body language should communicate receptivity and a willingness to pay attention to the opposite person's purpose of view.
o Bring an agenda both parties can use. This action can subtly offer you control over the meeting. Get agreement from your fellow negotiator. Saying something like, "Will this include everything we tend to want to discuss?" will ensure that you're each at the same beginning point. If the other negotiator challenges the content of the agenda, this will be the primary part f the negotiation you want to tackle.
o Neutrally obtain information. Raise open-ended queries to achieve as much information as attainable throughout the negotiation. At this stage, stay as nonjudgmental as possible. For instance, acknowledge everything however comply with little. During this section concentrate on uncovering the importance of varied factors to your opponent. If you know what the opposite person values and in what order, you may be a better negotiator.
o State positions. You and your fellow negotiator should state your respective positions, which often means talking price. Always get the opposite person to talk greenbacks first, as a result of it usually offers you a stronger position. Bear in mind, unless both of you clearly apprehend the other's beginning position, subsequent negotiation will be fruitless.
o Bargain methodically. Bear in mind that giving and obtaining concessions is half of the process. For every concession you offer, create certain you receive one in return. As a result of most concessions occur at the tip of a negotiation, retain as many of them so long as possible therefore you can trade at the terribly end.
o Agree in writing. You ought to write a contract once possible outlining agreements. If the ultimate legal document can take a while, at least get a co-signed letter of agreement whereas you await detailed paperwork.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Politics As Usual!

I had intended to remain neutral in my opinions and postings on the presidential campaign, since I don't believe either candidate is much of a choice. But, with the article below and the Bill O'Reilly attack on Obama last night, I have changed my mind. It seems that McCain, as with Bush against Kerry, four years ago, can have his henchmen attack, in a low-life manner, Obama whenever he so desires, and, of course, he will then deny any involvement. However, when the tables are turned, then of course McCain cries foul. McCain's campaign spokesman, Tucker Bounds, was interviewed, just yesterday, by CNN's Campbell Brown, and the McCain campaign is, once again, crying foul.


Yesterday, Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds appeared on CNN for an interview with Campbell Brown. Brown was tough on Bounds, refusing to let him spout typical campaign talking points.

She repeatedly pressed him on Palin's foreign policy experience and qualifications, asking him to name one decision that she made as commander-in-chief of the Alaskan National Guard. Bounds was unable to do so.

Today, CNN's Wolf Blitzer revealed that because of that tough interview, the McCain campaign has canceled the senator's appearance on Larry King Live tonight:


The McCain campaign said it believed that exchange was over the line and as a result the interview scheduled for Larry King Live with Sen. McCain was pulled. CNN does not believe that Campbell's interview was over the line. We are committed to fair coverage of both sides of this historic election.


First of all, I could care less about Palin. It's her boss that worries me! Four years ago, all I heard from the Bush campaign was "swift-boat" rhetoric about John Kerry.

John Kerry, had served in Viet Nam, been wounded and decorated, while George W couldn't find his drunken way back to the national guard base where he, once or twice a week, had to show up for duty. Now it's McCain with his overworked and overstated, "I learned to love my country, when I was a prisoner in someone else's," as if he were the only POW in Vietnam. It must have been tough on McCain, being a POW, since, as a pilot, he spent most of his tour of duty lounging in the officer's club, sipping whiskey, while eighteen and nineteen year old drafted Americans were being slaughtered in the rice paddies. Then, he managed to get shot down in a multi-million dollar aircraft that American tax dollars had paid for. This kind of service will never prepare one for the riggers and hardship of being a prisoner of war.

McCain, as evidenced in this article, is much better at spewing out political lies and rhetoric, through his campaign robots, than he is at receiving it. If McCain is elected, then expect the continuation of four or more years of war, corporate gluttony, uneducated and warped children and doom for the middle class in this country.


Think Progress - Infuriated About Tough CNN Interview, McCain Cancels Larry King Appearance.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Political Branding

To avoid partisan potshots, I disclose earlier that I am neither a Republican nor Democrat, nor could I be classified as a liberal or conservative. Therefore my following analysis is one purely aimed toward examining how brands work in presidential politics.

In different words, do not bother commenting if the analysis annoys your personal partisan political peccadilloes. This can be concerning promoting and not the mayhem of presidential elections.

A lot of has been written within the last year concerning the destruction of the Republican "complete". A whole - be it for a PC, politician, or perhaps a PC politician - is what the market (voters) think and feel regarding the product. Yes, politicians and parties are products that may be bought though the value is just too high for the typical shopper/voter.

Several Republicans felt their party now not had a brand. Several core Republican/conservative policies seem to have been abandoned by the Bush administration. Translate this into a technology product that had for several years delivered on the core features and functions it promised to provide. Then say that the new unharness of the merchandise had huge bugs that the vendor didn't fix that diminished or eliminated the usefulness of those features. Some GOP members viewed their party as Windows XP users read Vista - failing to faithfully deliver basic value.

This can be where belief systems enter into marketing. People usually believe things regarding a brand that are not true. But when faced with continuing failure to deliver on a branded price proposition, folks quit believing in the brand. In this election cycle we see two complete battles raging. The GOP had lost its whole and is currently actively redefining/reclaiming it.

Let's observe every starting with the Democrats. Obama - like several candidate - needs to keep the trust of all categories of people. He set forth a whole that spoke broadly and elicited an amazing amount of response for a candidate with relatively very little history. Bowling badly or making three-purpose buckets spoke well to the operating classes who hold the keys to bound battleground states. However Obama's "guns and faith" statement whereas raising funds during a San Francisco "Billionaire Row" mansion shattered that believability and damaged his brand value in those markets. Blue collar and Blue Dog Democrats indicate they will sit out this election based on whole misalignment. His selection of Biden did nothing to assist regain those voters.

McCain's team managed to one thing that any marketing strategist would love to achieve. They managed to search out a whole and value proposition that was broadly popular, that matched the present complete essence of the candidate, and located a running mate who brought further authenticity (real or imagined) to the new brand. In other words, GOP selling strategists scored a trifecta on brand management.

Let's circle back to the Silicon Strategies Selling copyrighted definition of a whole: a complete is what the market thinks and feels regarding your product. McCain had for years developed a reputation as both a maverick and a reformer. In fact the media created therefore abundant of this McCain price proposition that it became "information" rather than "belief" among most Americans. The market of voters therefore "thought" McCain to be a reformer. Adding Palin to the price ticket - exploiting her highly personal "tiny city, wisdom" complete - emotionally reinforced the ticket's reformer brand. GOP strategist realigned the first "little government" GOP whole to the prevailing McCain/Palin brands. Then they used this to co-opt Obama's "amendment" whole, simultaneously strengthening the GOP complete and weakening the Obama brand.

Polls indicate the plan worked very well.

Obama can solely counter this in two ways:

? Attempt to destroy the McCain brand, which can solely be done through negative attacks. This is a unhealthy move because Obama based much of his whole on being a nice guy, rising higher than "politics as usual". Going negative would be to destroy his own brand.

? Produce a a lot of authentic Obama whole: This is tough as a result of several of the mistakes his campaign created (hijacking the presidential seal, mass rallies in Berlin, the "guns and faith" sound bite) has reduced the general public perception that Obama is "authentic". Even San Francisco's eccentric former Mayor Willie Brown - a Democrat to the top - thinks "Obama still seems overscripted . Too perfect."

Here are the essential branding lessons to find out from this year's election cycle:

1. Be devoted to your brand: The Republican's learned the onerous means that the moment you stop "walking the walk" consumers/voters vanish. The GOP got lucky to find a new complete that worked in the 11th hour.

2. Do not invent a brand that is not authentic: Obama learned that you can not talk "tiny city" in Scranton then disrespect "small town" in San Francisco.

3. Represent your brand at every touch point: You receptionist should reinforce your brand. McCain picked a running mate that strengthened his.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Political Science Research Paper

Political science is a member of the social sciences academic field. It is mainly concern with the theory and execution of politics as well as the investigation of political constitution and political demeanor. Political science and politics appear obvious but to some extent, not everybody comprehends the reasons for some processes in the political field. To write quality political science papers, one must have outstanding analytical and research skills like following the political situation in the country constantly, be ware of current political state in the world especially the most powerful countries and states, leaders and organization as well as their impact on world politics, have a lot of useful knowledge about history, and have projections about the future of politics based on current situations. With all these general requirements, students writing political science papers, essays, thesis, term papers or research papers must know the several rules of thumb to help them present efficient political science papers.

A good political science paper must be properly presented in that, the organization must be logical, clearly argued, sense of evidence and perfectly documented. The first requirement in political science papers is a clear topic. When writing the paper, the political science paper writer must show the reader the significant questions and problems to the study, why the reader should be interested in them and what questions arise in the course of study that need further analysis. In the construction, one should begin with a clear problem statement that will present the general research problem to be addressed as well as the hypothesis. In addition, one should have a methodology section to explain to the reader the general research method used and provide test for the hypothesis. To avoid repetition of previous works of political science paper writers and/or illustrate the integrity of the hypothesis and methodology, a literature review section is important. In this section one indicates what other researchers, on the same topic, have written to enable readers to comprehend the full importance of the research which motivates them to read the research findings section to establish the relationship between the political science paper’s hypothesis and the results obtained. If what was found was to some extent, isn’t what was anticipated, then, clarify inconsistencies and provide additional support for the hypothesis. Lastly, in the summary section demonstrate the importance of the research and the research findings as well as predict the path for future research efforts. Generally, almost all political science papers present a clear argument, thesis or interpretation. This requires that claims and their evidence are clear to the writer and are articulated clearly to the reader. This will help explain why such evidence and reasons support the thesis. The political science paper should also address counter-arguments and counter-examples i.e. the political science paper should show awareness of alternative explanations or interpretations. A sophisticated political science paper must also explain why and how the preferred explanations were chosen and what the alternative explanations or interpretations failed to satisfy. Here, one is called upon to provide evidence and logic in support of ones arguments and not claim something is true since someone else said so. Also show awareness of possible limitations. Avoid plagiarism of ideas, detailed facts or exact wording from other sources by citing their sources.