Protocol
Offer several packages you would genuinely accept
A choice between two real solutions teaches more than another yes-or-no demand.
When it fits
- Price-only bargaining is stuck and you do not know which other terms matter most.
When to avoid it
- Do not combine the most generous term from each package unless the resulting deal also works. Too many alternatives can make comparison harder.
Why it matters
Build a small set of packages with different combinations of terms but similar overall value to you. Present them together and ask which comes closest, and why. These are multiple equivalent simultaneous offers, or MESOs; they are not decoys designed to make one bad option look attractive.
Steps
- Choose negotiable dimensions such as scope, timing and support.
- Check that every package is feasible and acceptable as a whole.
- Use the response to revise the package, not to assume you have decoded every preference.
An example
One proposal includes a smaller fixed scope; another includes more work with a later deadline. Either would suit the consultant.
Check your result
You could honor any offered package without relying on the other person choosing your favorite.
Keep this limit in mind
- Do not combine the most generous term from each package unless the resulting deal also works. Too many alternatives can make comparison harder.
Evidence and sources
MESOs present several packages that the proposer values equally and use the counterpart's preferences to explore possible agreement.
Equivalent value is assessed by the proposer; it does not mean identical prices or equal value to the recipient.
MESO Negotiation Strategies and Negotiation Techniques · Opening explanation