abstract
-
In this paper, a Web-based Collective Bargaining Support System (CBSS) is introduced. CBSS is designed to support the negotiation process for the parties from remote sites. It provides at least three features different from a traditional (face-to-face) bargaining process: 1) parallel telecommunication, 2) structured bargaining process, and 3) automatic documentation. The system is written in the Java language, and can be accessed easily through the World Wide Web without the need for a special installation at the user's site.
The validity of CBSS as a negotiation tool was tested through a simulated union-management contract negotiation experiment. The statistical analysis of the results reveals that CBSS is considered a valid alternative negotiation tool by users. It is also concluded that, although CBSS is perceived to be slower than face-to-face negotiation, it does have some advantages. It makes the negotiation process easy to organize, and facilitates the preparation of a final contract. CBSS is viewed to make a valuable contribution to the negotiation process and does not have a negative impact on the final bargaining outcome. CBSS has demonstrated a great potential to facilitate remote negotiation through the fast growing and widely available World Wide Web.