For CENAD, the “molecular” definition of negotiation is that of a “joint decision-making process”. The “joint” is vital when the negotiator needs to influence the outcome of a negotiation or set of interdependent negotiations.
Negotiation processes are bilateral and/or multiparty, formal and/or informal, internal, international, intercultural, interpersonal, multistakeholder, multi-level, inter-institutional and interdependent. With multiple actors, issues, processes and timelines comes greater complexity and scope of whatever decisions are reached.