Principled negotiation is an interest-based approach to negotiation that focuses primarily on conflict management and conflict resolution. Principled negotiation uses an integrative approach to finding a mutually shared outcome. This approach is primarily used by mediation practitioners and academics, although there is some attempt to apply this approach to commercial or business negotiations.
This negotiation approach is closely related to and often a synonym with the phrase “win-win,” meaning that both parties have reached an agreement in consideration of both sides’ interests. In other words, the deal or agreement cannot be improved any further as both parties are happy with the outcome.