Because parties negotiate to produce something better than what could be obtained without negotiating, the authors argue that final offers should be measured against the best alternative to an agreement, not against a pre-selected resistance point. Typically, as in traditional bargaining, interest-based bargainers set aside seemingly unresolvable issues until all others are settled. If issues remain unresolved, the parties resort to the tradeoffs associated with traditional negotiations. Interest arbitration is compatible with an interest-based approach. Interest-based bargaining is not for everyone.
Traditional bargaining has for the most part worked well in both the public and private sectors.
The perceived and actual risks associated with a transition to an interest-based approach may simply be too great in many situations. The interest-based process should be viewed as an effective option when used in the right places at the right times. Legislative review of economic terms are often unavoidable. Good communication is essential to the effectiveness of an interest-based process. Knowledge of the process and third party assistance are necessary for success.