[kstenerud]

However, just as in programming, you cannot effectively employ the simple solution without first understanding the theory that leads to it.

It's just like the difference between good developers and voodoo coders. One stops to think before acting while the other just throws canned solutions at the problem, hoping one sticks.

[xarien]

I'll respectfully disagree. Theory is useful for designing algorithms, but has nothing to do with being a good programmer. Perhaps you mean understanding design (of tools, languages etc)? If that's the case, then yes, you need to understand your tools before using them. I'm not suggesting otherwise.

The easiest way of getting better at negotiations, like programming, is actually just about practice.