Computer Assistance in Labor-Management Negotiations

Costly problems of conflict between parties with different objectives occur frequently in business and industry. One particular example of this arises in labor-management negotiations. In this paper a hypothetical labor-management conflict is examined using a new interactive microcomputer-based conflict analysis program. The conflict analysis is performed in a step-by-step manner from the point of view of an external arbitrator, with screen displays from the program presented at each step. The program provides a convenient medium for coming to conclusions about correct actions in a conflict situation, and thus to the resolution of the labor-management confrontation.