War is the biggest incident in a nation. Therefore, we should consider well in advance since it has impact on people’s life and country’s destiny. Before starting any conflict, we need to realize the reality precisely about what we can win or not. To analyze the win ratio, Sun Tzu, who is antient Chinese strategist and author of The Art of War, suggested check lists which are 5 factors and 7 criteria.
Nowadays, there are still many conflicts in our world. It’s not only real war. Internal politics in a company, business conflict and competition are kind of modern war. Ability to judge if you can defeat your enemy or not is very important as a leader. This judgement should be done before starting conflicts.
5 factors and 7 criteria by Sun Tzu
5 factors
- Vision:
- Condition：Nature condition, Climate condition
- Geography：Place to fight
- Ability：As a leader. It has wisdom, trustworthiness, love, decisiveness, courage, and strictness for people.
- Law：Rule and structure in a organization
7 Criteria
- Which one do they have a great cause in the conflict?
- Which one is superior as a leader?
- Which one do they have advantage in surroundings in the conflict?
- Which one of their laws is implemented to the end practically?
- Which one do they have military force?
- Which one are their soldiers trained more?
- Which one are they treated more fairly in compensation?
How to introduce Sun Tzu’s strategy to business
Based on the original ones, 5 factors and 7 criteria can be interpreted in the business world as below. Compare your rival/enemy and your organization. Compare companies in an industry to evaluate which one will have the highest potential. You’ll see which one have advantage at this moment.
5 factors in business
- Vision: Reason for what we do, Goal for what we want to do, what we want to be
- Condition: Anniversary, Season, Weather,
- Geography: Great location to take initiative more than opponent.
- Ability: As a leader who has wisdom, and trustworthiness, love, decisiveness, courage, strictness for people.
- Law: Set up right system and structure
7 Criteria in business
- Which vision do they make members more motivated?
- Which one do they choose talent people in management team?
- Which one has more advantage in a market?
- Which one is faster in decision-making process?
- Which one do they allocate talent people in right position more effectively?
- Which one do they pay for incentive fairly?
- Which one do they feel pride in their role?
Conclusion
Whatever technology has been developed, we human beings are the same. Learn from past great people and gain wisdom.
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