My survey of negotiating styles found that the French, the Argentineans, and the Indians tended to view deal
making as a top down (deductive process); while the Japanese, the Mexicans and the Brazilians tended to see it as a
bottom up (inductive) process. A further difference in negotiating style is seen in the dichotomy between the “buildingdown” approach and the “building-up approach.” In the building down approach, the negotiator begins by presenting the maximum deal if the other side accepts all the stated conditions. In the building-up approach, one side begins by proposing a minimum deal that can be broadened and increased as the other party accepts additional conditions. According to many observers, Americans tend to favor the building-down approach, while the Japanese tend to prefer the building-up style of negotiating a contract.