Foundations

Abstract

In this chapter a specific foundation for the presentation and discussion of the research results is developed for this book. This foundation complements the theoretical and practical assets for electronic negotiations reviewed in the previous section. The definition system in this chapter comprises:

• the introduction of a set of basic concepts and especially the notion of electronic negotiations and negotiation support,

• the development of a formal specification for describing a multi -attribute electronic negotiation situation and process,

• the characterisation of elements of a reference model for electronic negotiation development and execution processes, and

• the profile of a taxonomy that can be used to classify distinctively different types of electronic negotiations.