Play Nice Like Electronic Arts

CHICAGO -- In a head-on match up, you wouldn't put your money on 72-year-old football commentator John Madden vs. a horde of car-thieving thugs.

But in the videogame world, it looks like Madden may come out on top. Electronic Arts (EA Quote), publisher of the hugely successful Madden NFL video games, looks like it's poised to take over Take-Two Interactive Software (TTWO Quote), which distributes the controversial but very successful Grand Theft Auto.

For months, EA had been on the offensive, threatening to pounce on its rival through a hostile takeover. But this week, EA backed off, opting to pursue private, more conciliatory talks instead. Today, a merger looks more likely than ever.

What can your business learn from EA's strategy? To really get what you want, playing nice can pay off. Especially when your most-valuable assets are people as much as products. ...