1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Dealmaking is very complex and not for everyone, October 12, 2011
A good deal is when both parties feel OK about the deal. A great deal is when one party feels they got the best deal. Professor Subramanian provides detailed insights into three primary dealmaking situations. The preferred one is called "negotiauctions". This book challenged me. I have always have been in deals involving customers, sales, product teams, and more recently, K-12 grade learners.
The book is heavy with theory, jargon (ZOPA), and sometimes just too much detail. In fairness, it had some great "real" behind the scene case studies concerning the Fraiser TV show with NBC and Paramount; the baseball deal with A-Rod (Alex Rodriquez) and the Texas Rangers; Pittsburgh Steelers sale of their football franchise in 2008; and the U.S government's involvement with TARP funds for the toxic assets of the Sachs bank.
This book was not fun reading but I did learn. It was a good value (about $12 on Amazon) compared to taking a course at Harvard by the professor. If you want to improve your dealmaking on a car or a house (on the average, realtors take longer to sell their houses than their clients do study), then just read Chapter 10 and learn about a great concept called shut-down moves. Dealmaking is more complex in the 21 century and this book proves it. I would recommend this book to professional sales people or buyers but not for the average professional as it may be too over the top.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Auctions hardly exist, September 21, 2011
This book changed the way I approach any negotiation or auction. In fact, most almost all the auctions I have been through were negotiauctions. If I had had the chance to read this book 10 years ago, life would be different...
The book is very well organised.
The first part was extremely useful to review the basic concepts of (pure-)auctions and (pure-)negotiations. Even if we all think we know the basics, let's assume it, it's great when you can review them with one of the masters.
The second part was a real eye-opener to realise through how many negotiauctions I had been through without knowing it. Well, thinking they were pure-auctions.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Comprehensive and Well Organized -, May 15, 2010
This review is from: Negotiauctions: New Dealmaking Strategies for a Competitive Marketplace (Hardcover)
"Negotiauctions" is essential reading for anyone considering the sale of valuable assets. Subramanian begins by pointing out that assets most often change hands neither through pure negotiation or pure auction, but through mechanisms the combine elements of both. He identifies three strategies readers can use in complex deal-making strategies. The book also examines case studies involving buying a house, the rights to TV show 'Frasier,' and selling 'toxic' assets into the government's bailout fund.
BATNA (best alternative to a negotiated agreement, or What do you do if you don't reach a deal?) for NBC in the Frasier case probably meant a bidding war to replace 'Frasier.' Each participant needs to estimate that for all participants. They also need to determine their 'reservation value' - the lowest amount they would accept as seller or pay as buyer. When negotiating, suggests making a first offer as high/low as one can "tell a story around." Those on the receiving end of a first offer should strongly consider the 'mid-point rule' in shaping their counteroffer. A win-win move is to introduce 'contingent contracts' to align the incentives of both parties (eg. ratings-based increases/decreases) that also permit diagnosing the other sides' honesty.
"When to Auction" is a fairly mundane chapter.
"Negotiauctions" also covers creating illusions via sealed bids with comments such as "You're the low bidder" (when there's only one bidder), leaving pizza boxes from supposedly prior due diligence efforts, artificially limiting slots for due diligence, survivor rounds, etc.
Subramanian suggests sealed bids instead of open outcry, except in the presence of 'affiliated signals' (eg. the opportunity to learn a competitor is willing to bid high).
Stalking horse bids are used in bankruptcy proceedings by sellers to prevent lowball offers.
Explains reverse auctions, Dutch auctions, English, and Japanese auctions.
Again - must reading for anyone considering the sale of valuable assets.
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