This really spoke to me. I never seen such epic discussions at the workplaces I have had as those about ordering a new coffee machine. I also do large negotiation exercises as parts of some of our courses. My favourite is: the EU has been dissolved and 20 countries are creating a new organisation. Groups of four students represent each country and are given negotiating positions on currency, security, trade and industry, free movement etc. You know what every group spends the most time on? The design of the flag. It’s the tiniest of issues but the easiest to negotiate.
I used to hate staff meetings where most of the meeting would get stuck on how to sort past and present clients. It was a tiny issue that ended up taking up most staff meetings. Nothing ended up being done because no one could agree. And of course nothing major was ever decided on either…