Group decision and negotiation focuses on complex and self-organizing processes that constitute multiparticipant, multicriteria, ill-structured, dynamic, and often evolutionary problems. Major approaches include: (1) applied game theory, experiment and social choice, (2) cognitive and behavioral sciences as applied to group decision and negotiation, (3) conflict analysis and resolution (4) software, specifically group decision support systems (GDSS) and negotiation support systems (GDNSS), (5) artificial intelligence, and (6) management science as related to group decision-making. Many research initiatives combine two or more of these fields.

In defining the domain of group decision and negotiation, the term “group” is interpreted to comprise all multiplayer contexts. Thus, organizational decision support systems providing organization-wide support are included. Group decision and negotiation refers to the whole process or flow of activities relevant to reaching a group decision, and not merely to the final choice – aspects of the process in group decision and negotiation include scanning, communication and information sharing, problem definition (representation) and evolution, alternative generation, and social-emotional interaction. Deblockedive, preblockedive, normative, and design viewpoints are all of interest. Thus, Group Decision and Negotiation deals broadly with relation and coordination in group processes.

Areas of application include, among others, intraorganizational coordination (as in operations management and integrated design, production, finance, marketing and distribution, including coordination of all phases of the product life cycle), computer supported collaborative work and meetings, computer-supported negotiations including internet-supported negotiations and negotiating agents, labor-management negotiations, interorganizational negotiations (including negotiations among businesses, governments, nonprofit organizations, and joint ventures), intercultural negotiations, environmental negotiations, etc. See the Journal Group Decision and Negotiation for further illustrations of the scope of the field of Group Decision and Negotiation.

To commemorate the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held in Stockholm almost exactly 40 years ago (5 – 16 June 1972), GDN2013 takes Environmental Negotiations as its special theme. Because of their long-term implications and worldwide scope, the processes of negotiation and decision on the environment offer distinctive challenges. The 1972 meeting drew the world’s attention to the need for a common outlook and common principles to inspire and guide the peoples of the world in the preservation and enhancement of the human environment. By choosing this special theme for GDN2013, we honor four decades of effort and progress on Environment Negotiations, and hope to stimulate further development and understanding of this vital human endeavor.

Exemples of Themes and Areas of Interest: