This was the first time I have watched 12 Angry Men and I watched the 1954 version rather than the 1957 version. While many shared that the 1957 movie was much more substantial, I still felt that 12 Angry Men is really a classic movie to discover how to lead and succeed in difficult negotiations. While this negotiation process may not be the most ideal form of principled negotiation, it was interesting to see how the high stakes of the jurors' decision led to the revelations of their bad habits and how they ultimately moved past their differences to arrive at a conclusion. 12 Angry Men also provides insights to the challenges of community leaders given that the jury were selected to be a general representation of the community. The movie emphasises the importance for community leaders to employ principled negotiation to understand the underlying interests of the respective stakeholders. This will then increase the likelihood of good intentions translating into good outcomes when leaders are well-informed. All in all, with its powerful dialogue, finely etched characters and carefully worked plot, 12 Angry Men is highly recommended to realise the effectiveness and importance of employing principled negotiation, particularly in the community setting.
Review of Twelve Angry Men
