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Sun Tzu and the Art of Business: Six Strategic Principles for Managers
More than two millennia ago the famous Chinese general Sun Tzu wrote the classic work on military strategy, The Art of War . Now, in a new edition of Sun Tzu and the Art of Business , Mark McNeilly shows how Sun Tzu's strategic principles can be applied to twenty-first century business. Here are two books in McNeilly's synthesis of Sun Tzu's ideas into six strategic principles for the business executive, plus the text of Samuel B. Griffith's popular translation of The Art of War . McNeilly explains how to gain market share without inciting competitive retaliation, how to attack competitors' weak points, and how to maximize market information for competitive advantage. He demonstrates the value of speed and preparation in throwing the competition off-balance, employing strategy to beat the competition, and the need for character in leaders. Lastly, McNeilly presents a practical method to put Sun Tzu's principles into practice. By using modern examples throughout the book from
Google, Zappos, Amazon, Dyson, Aflac, Singapore Airlines, Best Buy, the NFL, Tata Motors, Starbucks, and many others, he illustrates how, by following the wisdom of history's most respected strategist, executives can avoid the pitfalls of management fads and achieve lasting competitive advantage.
Google, Zappos, Amazon, Dyson, Aflac, Singapore Airlines, Best Buy, the NFL, Tata Motors, Starbucks, and many others, he illustrates how, by following the wisdom of history's most respected strategist, executives can avoid the pitfalls of management fads and achieve lasting competitive advantage.
330 pages, Paperback
First published November 14, 1996
21 people are currently reading
479 people want to read
About the author
Mark McNeilly
8 books1 followerMark is the author of two books on Sun Tzu's Art of War, both published by Oxford University Press. Sun Tzu and the Art of Business: Six Strategic Principles for Managers helps business people apply Sun Tzu's strategic philosophy to business problems.
Mark has twenty-four years of experience in the IT industry working for IBM and graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota's MBA program. Mark currently is leading the corporate branding strategy at a Fortune 500 company.
Mark has twenty-four years of experience in the IT industry working for IBM and graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota's MBA program. Mark currently is leading the corporate branding strategy at a Fortune 500 company.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 21, 2014
At least he didn't name this "The Art of War for Business"...
It's a very thoughtful book though. I have read a few versions of the Art of War, and have been doing business in Asia for 10 years now, but this helped me make some connections between Sun Tzu's battle field and the market that I didn't make earlier.
The goal is to win without fighting.
We must attack where the enemy is not.
Seriously, if your responsible for business strategy, you should read this. In spite of the cheesy title and cover, the author is very sharp. Every bit as valid in 2014 as when it was written almost 20 years ago.
Now if we can just change Sun-Tzu to Sunzi... Mangling Chinese names is so annoying... 孙子孙子孙子 not "Sun-SUE"...
It's a very thoughtful book though. I have read a few versions of the Art of War, and have been doing business in Asia for 10 years now, but this helped me make some connections between Sun Tzu's battle field and the market that I didn't make earlier.
The goal is to win without fighting.
We must attack where the enemy is not.
Seriously, if your responsible for business strategy, you should read this. In spite of the cheesy title and cover, the author is very sharp. Every bit as valid in 2014 as when it was written almost 20 years ago.
Now if we can just change Sun-Tzu to Sunzi... Mangling Chinese names is so annoying... 孙子孙子孙子 not "Sun-SUE"...
August 11, 2011
The book contains analytics based on Sun Tzu war principles adapted for business needs. I expected more from that book.
February 9, 2021
The world of business is like a battleground. There’s a war going on – for customers, visibility, and market supremacy. So how do you come out on top? How can you force your competitors into a retreat, capture their territory, and emerge victorious?
کاربرد هنر جنگ تسو در استراتژی کسب و کار
That’s where these blinks come in. Based on the philosophy of ancient Chinese military general Sun Tzu, they explain how you can use classic strategies of warfare to prosper in business.
Sun Tzu wrote The Art of War over 2,000 years ago, but the wisdom and insights from his famous text are still relevant today. From leadership to resources and surprise-attacks, this is your go-to manual for beating your competition and securing long-term prosperity.
1.Capture your enemy’s territory but don’t destroy it in the process.
2.Avoid your enemies’ strengths and attack their weaknesses.
3.Conduct in-depth research into your competitors.
4.Speed compensates for a lack of resources.
5.Engage your enemy in two places at once.
6.Leaders should possess five key qualities, and avoid several others.
According to Sun Tzu, the first crucial quality for leaders is wisdom. Wisdom enables leaders to recognize when circumstances are shifting and to make pragmatic, advantageous decisions. Second, leaders need to be bold and have the courage to seize opportunities when they arise.
The third crucial quality for good leaders is being humane – sympathizing with their troops and appreciating their sacrifices. Fourth, leaders must be sincere, so that their soldiers can be sure of rewards for their efforts. And fifth, good leaders must be strict so that their forces remain disciplined and fear the consequences of bad behavior.
(Blinkist summary)
کاربرد هنر جنگ تسو در استراتژی کسب و کار
That’s where these blinks come in. Based on the philosophy of ancient Chinese military general Sun Tzu, they explain how you can use classic strategies of warfare to prosper in business.
Sun Tzu wrote The Art of War over 2,000 years ago, but the wisdom and insights from his famous text are still relevant today. From leadership to resources and surprise-attacks, this is your go-to manual for beating your competition and securing long-term prosperity.
1.Capture your enemy’s territory but don’t destroy it in the process.
2.Avoid your enemies’ strengths and attack their weaknesses.
3.Conduct in-depth research into your competitors.
4.Speed compensates for a lack of resources.
5.Engage your enemy in two places at once.
6.Leaders should possess five key qualities, and avoid several others.
According to Sun Tzu, the first crucial quality for leaders is wisdom. Wisdom enables leaders to recognize when circumstances are shifting and to make pragmatic, advantageous decisions. Second, leaders need to be bold and have the courage to seize opportunities when they arise.
The third crucial quality for good leaders is being humane – sympathizing with their troops and appreciating their sacrifices. Fourth, leaders must be sincere, so that their soldiers can be sure of rewards for their efforts. And fifth, good leaders must be strict so that their forces remain disciplined and fear the consequences of bad behavior.
(Blinkist summary)
March 29, 2016
That Sun Tzu's "Art of War" has spawned an industry of snake oil vendors rife with meta-analyses, meta-application and meta-commentaries informed my initial reluctance and resistance to this book. I'm however exceedingly relieved that McNeilly's work disappointed my scepticism: it proved a far departure from others. Glad that I overcame the inertia I initially had for reading this book.
Unlike other run-of-the-mill metas on Sun Tzu. Mark McNeilly's effort is worth more than its weight in gold. With in-context and content-laden scenarios, the author takes you beyond the theories to the theaters of operation (on battle fields and board rooms) with very relevant historical correlates and practical applications.
The cream of the work form me is where he beautifully brings all to bear in the last chapter and 'thrusts' all the requisite tools at the reader, showing and urging you to use them.
Only someone with practical military and business experience could creditably give Sun Tzu' ancient treatise on strategy 'board room life'.
Right into my strategy toolkit is where this books goes, and there for keeps.
Simply brilliant!
Unlike other run-of-the-mill metas on Sun Tzu. Mark McNeilly's effort is worth more than its weight in gold. With in-context and content-laden scenarios, the author takes you beyond the theories to the theaters of operation (on battle fields and board rooms) with very relevant historical correlates and practical applications.
The cream of the work form me is where he beautifully brings all to bear in the last chapter and 'thrusts' all the requisite tools at the reader, showing and urging you to use them.
Only someone with practical military and business experience could creditably give Sun Tzu' ancient treatise on strategy 'board room life'.
Right into my strategy toolkit is where this books goes, and there for keeps.
Simply brilliant!
February 12, 2021
Sun Tzu and the Art of Business (1996) explains how ancient Chinese general Sun Tzu’s classic text The Art of War applies to the hyper-competitive environment of modern business.
This reading explores how business leaders can integrate Sun Tzu’s battle strategies into their own plans for market domination.
This reading explores how business leaders can integrate Sun Tzu’s battle strategies into their own plans for market domination.
July 28, 2011
Michael Fleegler's review made me laugh aloud but I will give it a read anyway. Funny, Michael!
Quick read. Worth picking up if you are in Managment or Busines Development. 101 level but is good for a refresher which we all need but are afraid to admit.
Quick read. Worth picking up if you are in Managment or Busines Development. 101 level but is good for a refresher which we all need but are afraid to admit.
March 7, 2015
Find some interesting ideas, but looking at the bigger picture, book seemed already out of date. Times have changed, so have the world. Peoples will find some really interesting points, but don`t take everything for granted.
February 25, 2016
Not bad, but really so similar to the source material that you could just read one of the two and be good. I honestly would recommend this one. Having concrete examples makes it easier to understand and apply to life, even if some of the examples are quite a stretch.
December 26, 2007
How to conquer using Sun Tzu techniques on business
April 29, 2008
It was an interesting read. Applying Sun Tzu to the business world. I think there is a lot to learn in this book.
March 29, 2013
A should-read book on office politics which will happen to you and around you whether you participate in politics or not.
September 24, 2013
me gustó mucho la forma en la que el autor define ejemplos sencillos, prácticos y aplicables en cualquier modelo de negocio. Excelente recomendaciones prácticas.
January 7, 2014
Good airplane & waiting lounge material
May 12, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. It provided a very different approach to business strategy than most other books I have read on the topic. I would definitely recommend this book.
September 22, 2014
The book is well written, but it's not entirely what I expected.
It's has more emphasis on war examples and less how to use this in business environment.
It's has more emphasis on war examples and less how to use this in business environment.
April 11, 2016
Great book for business strategist or any entrepreneur wanting to better adapt his strategies to conquer more market shares.
Read
February 15, 2017I want to read this book.
August 7, 2022
Some useful interpretation of sun tzu's art of war in terms of the world of modern business. Essentially the main lesson from the book is to avoid rushing head on into conflict with business rivals that would deplete your own resources, and leave you vulnerable once you have taken over or defeated said rival.
The book was a bit repetitive and could have been a bit shorter which is the reason for the low rating.
The book was a bit repetitive and could have been a bit shorter which is the reason for the low rating.
February 9, 2021
Though business is not really my favorite topic, broadly speaking, the book contains several interesting facts and sayings. Just wondering how I'm supposed to apply those in my life.
Read
January 10, 2022Great application of Sun Tzu in a modern setting.
May 18, 2023
Win Without Fighting
Attack Weakness
Deceive the enemy
Move Swiftly
Shape Your Opponent
Be a good leader.
Attack Weakness
Deceive the enemy
Move Swiftly
Shape Your Opponent
Be a good leader.
October 7, 2024
Needs a refresh, industry case studies are dated.
July 19, 2011
Absolutely great book, I highly recommend listening to the Art of War, then this book.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews