
THE MYTH OF THE MONOLITH 77
state corporations, to name just a few. Within those organizational
entities, there usually are units with specialized responsibilities.
The challenge for the negotiator is to identify the governmental
unit that can potentially help and then to find within that organi-
zation the right person to negotiate with.
Warren Buffett’s Organizational Analysis
Consider the problem that Warren Buffett faced in deciding how
to move the U.S. government to change its position on banning
Salomon Brothers’ participation in government securities auc-
tions. Buffett had to decide which governmental unit to engage in
negotiations. Should it