BATNA: Purpose and Role and How One is Chosen

BATNA
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BATNA
During negotiations, parties involved should be prepared on what to do if an agreement is not reached. In other terms, it is crucial to have a strong best alternative to a negotiated agreement (BATNA). A stronger BATNA gives a party an upper hand during negotiations and increases the probability of closing a better deal. In addition, it increases the party’s bargaining power. The paper focuses on the purpose and role of a BATNA, explains how one is chosen and gives an example of it in a workplace conflict situation.
The role and purpose of the BATNA are essential during negotiations. Indeed, it describes the best alternative that can be implemented if an agreement is not reached during negotiations. The primary objective of negotiation is for every party involved to get a good deal (Sebenius, 2017). However, an agreement is not always arrived at when parties are negotiating. That is why having a strong BATNA is vital since it enables the party to walk away from any deal that does not meet its needs or would compromise a party’s ethics or vision. As such, the BATNA plays a crucial role in helping parties during a negotiation to determine whether a deal is favorable or meets their needs or not. If one does not get the best deal on the bargaining table, there would be no shame in walking away. Good negotiators prepare their BATNAs before negotiations to ensure that all their needs are considered and prioritized when bargaining.
Negotiators do their best to persuade the parties involved so that they can walk away with an appealing deal (Sebenius, 2017). In particular, an effective BATNA ought to be chosen. First, a party should list all the possible alternatives that can occur during negotiations. Second, one should evaluate the value of those alternatives. Third, the individual should choose the preferred alt...