Certified Human Resource Professional (CHRP) Practice Exam

What approach is used to mitigate conflict in labour negotiation by reducing the disparities between parties?

1. Positional bargaining

2. Integrative bargaining

3. Distributive bargaining

4. Collaborative negotiation

The correct answer is: Integrative bargaining

Integrative bargaining is an approach that focuses on collaborative problem-solving to meet the interests and needs of both parties involved in labor negotiations. This method encourages open communication and understanding, aiming to create a win-win situation where both parties can achieve satisfactory outcomes rather than competing against each other for the largest share of resources. By emphasizing cooperation and mutual gain, integrative bargaining reduces disparities and fosters a constructive atmosphere, which can lead to more sustainable agreements and better relationships between labor and management. The other approaches, such as positional bargaining and distributive bargaining, often revolve around fixed positions or zero-sum scenarios where one party's gain is another party's loss. Positional bargaining typically leads to more entrenched positions, making it harder to find common ground. Distributive bargaining, on the other hand, involves dividing a fixed amount of resources, which can exacerbate conflicts rather than mitigate them. Collaborative negotiation may share similarities with integrative bargaining but does not specifically focus on the creation of value through understanding and addressing the underlying interests of both parties as integrative bargaining does.