Gender, Negotiation and Human Potential in Organizations (Hardback) | Released: 01 Jan 2021

The ability to influence others in the workplace is crucial to achieving goals and utilizing resources effectively. Thus, argue the authors in Gender, Negotiation and Human Potential in Organizations, negotiation is an essential part of organizational life, affecting careers and the contributions of different individuals and groups. Despite their increased participation in the labor market and movement into positions previously barred to them, women are still much less likely to negotiate in the workplace, and this inhibits their ability to move forward and achieve success for themselves, for those they represent, and for their organizations. Now, more than ever, when organizational resources are limited, failing to maximize the potential of any human capital is critical. With content grounded in research, but taking a direct, practical approach to negotiation, Professors Terrie Smith and Jean-Luc Grosso consider why women don't negotiate. Historically, women have had less experience in the workforce, and are less familiar and less practiced with the negotiation process; Culturally, men learn from childhood to compete, win and outwit opponents. Women learn to nurture, to care for others and to take what they are given and be happy. They also tend to shy away from conflict; Personally, women may not negotiate because money is less important to them than other job attributes such as good working conditions, flexible schedules, collegial co-workers, or satisfaction with the work. The authors view, based on their years investigating the impact of things like gender pay differentials on individuals, occupations, organizations, and society, is that women can and must negotiate, amongst other things, their working conditions, in order to maximize their potential. The book offers new ideas about knowledge and preparation and maintaining credibility during negotiation, about making it less stressful and about avoiding the critical mistakes that doom negotiation attempts to failure. This book is timely and relevant to today's business professionals who will realize that making best use of their human capital will benefit not only women, but the organizations and societies in which they participate. Policy makers, business educators, consultants, coaches, HR professionals, and others seeking to guide women at any stage of their careers will find the book useful as well as researchers and higher level students in business, HR and other disciplines.
About the Author: Dr. Teresa L. Smith is the Julian T. Buxton Professor of Business Administration at the University of South Carolina and a consultant with Organizational Strategies, LLC in New York. She received her B. A. in Economics and Elementary Education from the College of William and Mary, her M. A. in Economics from Virginia State University, and her Ph.D. in Business Management from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She has over twenty years of teaching experience and has published more than fifty refereed journal articles and conference proceedings. She has presented her research at local, state, national and international forums. She has also given numerous seminars on negotiation skills for women and counselled women on improving their careers with negotiation. Her areas of expertise focus on issues relating to advancement of women in the workplace including compensation, negotiation and leadership. Dr. Jean-Luc Grosso, the McDavid Professor of Business Administration at the University of South Carolina and two-time finalist for Governor's Professor of the Year, is a native of southern France. He received a Bachelor's Degree in Economic Analysis and a Master's Degree in International Economics from the Université d Aix-Marseille, France. He also received an M. A. in Economics from Virginia State University. After a successful career in the business world (Bell Atlantic in Washington D.C.) acquiring experience in product costing, pricing, marketing, and management, Jean-Luc received his Ph.D. in International Economics and International Business from the University of South Carolina. Dr. Grosso has over fifteen years of teaching experience and has published more than fifty refereed journal articles, conference proceedings, and book chapters. He has presented his work at local, state, national and international conferences. His research topics include essential issues facing employers here and abroad, as well as the impact of culture on aspects of society including educational achievement and women's welfare in the workplace.