BATNA and ZOPA. Example of BATNA. A common problem we see in disputes is a party not knowing what their BATNA and WATNA is. This is true in both business and politics. BATNA and WATNA. This site’s case studies are rife with real-life examples of BATNA being the single biggest success factor or blind spot. By that we mean their best alternative to a negotiated agreement (BATNA) and their worst alternative to a negotiated agreement (WATNA). In that case, the focus of the analysis shifts completely from theoretically possible legal outcomes to one party’s actual resources and the value that the party places on … They have no idea what could happen if they went to court. A WATNA is the worst possible outcome a party has in mind. In the example above, the BATNA is the lower prices of the competitors; this is an alternative plan that will benefit the buyer, and it can help the supplier realize he needs to offer more reasonable terms. Or consider this BATNA example, below. Yet, they are certain that they are right. ZOPA, or Zone of Possible Agreement, is the range or area of a negotiation that is satisfactory to both parties. In negotiation theory, the best alternative to a negotiated agreement or BATNA (no deal option) refers to the most advantageous alternative course of action a party can take if negotiations fail and an agreement cannot be reached. It can be the same number that you can get without the negotiation, but it can also mean a different number. I just knew I had to get $1.60 but I had no idea what to do if I got a smaller amount, which was what eventually happened. For example, private equity companies report that retailers facing bankruptcy often choose to close their doors rather than accept a low offer that would leave the owners better off. BATNA/WATNA analysis can also lose meaning in some contexts, such as cases where bankruptcy is a realistic possibility. Person A offers his iPhone X for $600 to person B. As the renewal deadline for Sam’s homeowner’s insurance policy approached, he decided to do a “market check” to compare prices. Considering a WATNA means that each party thinks about what their losing scenario looks like. As suggested earlier, BATNA/WATNA analysis can also be less influential where parties simply refuse to give it meaning because they can afford to do so and have other interests that are more important to them. Netscape’s BATNA Blunder. Unlike BATNA, the Reservation Value is always expressed as a number. When considering the BATNA, MLATNA, and WATNAs, each party should consider what alternative paths exist if … For example, for a seller, this means the minimum amount they would be prepared to accept, while for a buyer it would mean the maximum that they would be prepared to pay. Now that you know what a BATNA is, you should be aware of another term that is frequently used along with it. So BATNA of person B is $500. A wants to sell his old iPhone X to person B who wants to buy iPhone X. The exact opposite of this option is the WATNA (worst alternative to a negotiated agreement). However, there were no stakes. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. For example, an employer may be willing to risk significant losses, at high costs, to maintain a reputation that they do not settle certain Person B then browses through eBay and finds exactly same iPhone for $500. The Netscape Navigator negotiation case provides a now-infamous example. For example, during the two-dollar bargaining game I didn’t clearly have a BATNA and this hindered my negotiation strategy. The key is getting both sides to see that alternatives exist if … Consider there are two persons A and B. While each party has their BATNA in a negotiation, it is not very likely that every negotiation has ZOPA. 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