A lesson on negotiations

Rating: 8/10 (16 April 2018)

12 Angry Men tells the tale of twelve jurors trying to come to a consensus on the verdict for a case of homicide, in which they will have to decide if a boy is innocent or guilty of killing his father on the basis of reasonable doubt. Through the heated exchanges among the jurors and the intriguing build up of the case as the story unfolds, we discover more about the distinctive personalities and backgrounds of each juror, who is peculiarly only referred to by number and not by name. Furthermore, we gain insights into the techniques they employ and difficulties they face in multi-party negotiation while trying to justify their stand and convince the others to switch over to their position. The movie incorporates light-hearted moments and comical dialogues to make it enjoyable for the viewers, and the technique of incrementally adding on to the narrative as the discussion progresses keeps the audience engaged. However, beneath the entertainment value of the film lie lessons in negotiation that we can learn from. It is an enriching movie that allows us to study the characteristics of negotiations and negotiators. It also shows us the relevance of the information in Roger Fisher's "Getting to Yes" book and the usefulness of principled negotiation, which we can apply in our daily lives.