Certain to Win: The Strategy of John Boyd, Applied to Business

by Chet Richards

If there is a universally accepted truth in military science, the fundamental role played by cohesion, unity, and trust may be it. Twenty-four hundred years before Fuller, Sun Tzu had concluded that, “He whose ranks are united in purpose will be victorious.”50 The Arab historian ibn Khaldun, who is generally credited with writing the first modern analysis of history, echoed this theme in 1377 A.D., “What is in fact proven to make for superiority is the situation with regard to group feeling.” The rule is simple: The side with the stronger group feeling has a great advantage.51 Thus German General Heinz Gaedcke, when asked about what makes a good commander, replied that first, they did not lead from the rear, and second, “they commanded on the basis of mutual trust.”52 Postwar military analysts agreed: “Teamwork was the key to German superiority.”