Civility in Negotiations
I came across a short pamphlet produced by the DC Bar entitled "Voluntary Standards for Civility in Professional Conduct" which contains a few civility standards specific to negotiations. I thought they were particularly well done and I adapted them to the procurement profession since I haven't come across anything similar in the past. I'd like to create a more robust list, so if you have any other standards you'd like to suggest, please do!
- A buyer will stand by all proposals the buyer has made in negotiations unless newly received information or circumstances provide a good faith basis for rescinding them.
- A buyer will not engage in abusive or discourteous conduct in negotiations.
- A buyer will not make changes to written documents under negotiation in a manner calculated to cause the seller to overlook or fail to appreciate the changes. A buyer will clearly and accurately identify for the seller all changes that the buyer made in documents submitted to the seller for review.
- In memorializing oral agreements the parties have reached, a buyer will do so without making changes in substance and will strive in good faith to state the oral understandings accurately and completely. In drafting proposed agreements based on the expressed intent of the parties, the buyer will strive to draft documents that fairly reflect the agreement of the parties.
Posted by Stephen Guth at 12/9/2009 7:30 PM 
Categories: Vendor Relationship Management,General Negotiations,Terms and Conditions Negotiations
Tags: Negotiations Ethics
Categories: Vendor Relationship Management,General Negotiations,Terms and Conditions Negotiations
Tags: Negotiations Ethics
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