Damok: An Example Of Integrative Negotiation

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The Star Trek episode entitled "Damok" is an outstanding example of the elements of negotiation including interests, conflict, alternatives, and communication. Particularly, visual piece display integrative negotiating. According to Michael Watkins and Susan Rosegrant (Breakthrough International Negotiations, 2001), integrative negotiation refers to "negotiations in which there is a potential for the parties' interests to be integrated in ways that create a joint value or enlarge the pie. Integrative negotiation is possible when the parties have some shared interests or opportunities to realize mutual gains through trades across multiple issues" (p. 31). Basically, integrative negotiation is all about creating a win-win outcome. In the episode,…show more content…
Communication can be achieved not only through verbal means, but non-verbally as well. Several instances of non-verbal communication in Darmok that assisted in the negotiation process was gestures, facial expression and space. It is important to note that the captain and his crew was initially unable to understand the discovered species due to the difference in language. In terms of gestures, when Captain Picard is unable to start a fire the aliens throws a piece of lit firewood on the floor beside him. Then the alien opens his arms wide and says "timber... his arms wide," then he closes his arms and repeats himself. Later on the captain realizes that saying timber with his arms open meant the alien was offering the fire and knife as a gift, and closing meant he wanted Picard to accept it. When Captain Picard comes to the realization that the aliens communicate by use of metaphor, the alien captain shouts "his eyes uncovered," which means he now understands. Consequently, the alien showed that he was pleased by Picards accepting of the fire by smiling (facial expression). Offer and acceptance are inherent aspects of negotiation. Furthermore, while trying to decide what approach to take in terms of attacking the alien ship of standing down, Riker walked over to Worf and stood extremely close to him and stared intensely. This signified his dominance and authority in line of giving the final

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