BATNA (Best Alternative to Negotiated Agreement)

Roger Fisher and William Ury's concept from 'Getting to Yes': your best option if the current negotiation fails. BATNA is the single most important factor determining negotiation power—the party with the better alternative can walk away more credibly. The key insight: you should never accept a deal worse than your BATNA, and improving your BATNA (not just your negotiation skills) is the most effective way to improve negotiation outcomes.

When to use it

When facing strategic decisions under uncertainty; when multiple stakeholders have competing interests; when the stakes are high and reversibility is low.

How it can help

Provides frameworks for navigating competitive landscapes, allocating resources under uncertainty, and making high-stakes decisions with incomplete information.