If we turn again to Clausewitz’s most mature account of friction in Book One of On War, some patterns emerge from the disparity of the elements he enumerates. The following table is derived from a reading of it: GENERIC SOURCE OF FRICTION SPECIFIC SOURCE FROM ON WAR Imperfect information Uncertainties False information Rumors Imperfect transmitting and processing of information Making judgments based on probabilities Stress caused by emotions, including fear Stress caused by physical exertion The number of people in an organization who can cause a misunderstanding or delay Differences of
...more
