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Sun Tzu and the Art of Business: Six Strategic Principles for Managers By Mark R. McNeilly ( Oxford University Press, USA )
Release Date: 1996-10-17
Average Customer Rating:
List Price: $17.95
Price: $8.44
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Product Description
To hand down the wisdom he had gained from years of battles, more than two millennia ago the famous Chinese general Sun Tzu wrote the classic work on military strategy, The Art of War. Because business, like warfare, is dynamic, fast-paced, and requires an effective and efficient use of scarce resources, modern executives have found value in Sun Tzu's teachings. But The Art of War is arranged for the military leader and not the CEO, so making connections between ancient warfare and today's corporate world is not always easy. Now, in Sun Tzu and the Art of Business, Mark R. McNeilly shows how Sun Tzu's strategic principles can be successfully applied to modern business situations.
Here are really two books in one: Mark McNeilly's synthesis of Sun Tzu's ideas into six strategic principles for the business executive plus the entire text of Samuel B. Griffith's popular translation of The Art of War. McNeilly explains how to gain market share without inciting competitive retaliation ("Win All Without Fighting"), how to attack a competitor's weak points ("Avoid Strength and Strike Weakness"), and how to maximize the power of market information for competitive advantage ("Deception and Foreknowledge"). He also demonstrates the value of speed, preparation, and secrecy in throwing the competition off-balance, employing strategy to beat the competition ("Shape Your Opponent"), and the need for character in successful leaders. In his final chapter, McNeilly presents a practical method to put Sun Tzu and The Art of Business into practice.
By using modern examples throughout the book from GE, Microsoft, AT&T, BMW, Southwest Airlines, FedEx, 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.
Even though down-sizing continues to increase corporate competition, and new technology constantly changes the playing field, the basics of business and strategy remain essentially unchanged. Sun Tzu and the Art of Business illuminates the fundamental strategic principles, providing lessons every manager must know to succeed today.
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 Practical and Applicable ( the_pensive_pen )
Sure, the principles in this book aren't really new. In fact, they've been around thousands of years since before Sun Tze's time. But the way the business-based applications are laid out in this book make them all the more memorable and easy to use. I've used this book to analyze several personal situations that involved competing over an end goal, and have found the insights inspirational to more than just pure business applications. China scholars in particular will appreciate the fact that the book includes a translation of the original work: you can dig for your own insights above and beyond those presented by the author.
Reviewed by Barbara Strother, author of Moon Living Abroad in China (Living Abroad).
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 Practical application of a classic book on strategy ( rickmatz2 )
McNeilly's book is a terrific introduction on how to apply the principles taught by this classic book on strategy.
As a marketing representative for my company, I use these principles everyday, in order to win business, and frustrate my competitors.
I always recommend McNeilly's books as a starting point to anyone wanting to learn about strategy.
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Pragmatic Look @ Sunzi's (Sun Tzu) Principles of Strategy. ( crimsonflash )
Mr. McNeilly book on Sunzi (Sun Tzu)is one of my favorite books on practical strategic application. ...
As a sftwr developer-prjct mgmt consultant, found his ["Six Strategic Principles"] to be pragmatically effective in any strategic challenges. ...
Also, technically abstract enough where the reader(-implementer of the ["Six Strategic Principles"]) can devise their own spin to their own strategic challenges. ...
The examples that are introduced were efficient enough for me to understand. ...
Have successfully utilized [McNeilly's Six Principles] for different strategic scenarios (i.e., market research, product development, close quarters negotiation, etc.).
McNeilly's book is one of those few books that's worth re-reading once a year for a mental refresher course. ... (Yes! This Cardinal does re-read this book once per yr.)
Have recommend this book to my assoc(s). Also, given away many copies of this book to those who are interested in Sunzi Strategic Principles.
Overall, I find his writing to be extremely sharp; his ability to explain how to apply Sunzi (Sun Tzu) principles to military conflict and business is nothing short of extraordinary.
Recommend this book to anyone who is serious about strategy.
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 Entertaining read, but unsatisfying ( hello-there )
This book doesn't seem to be too detailed in it's examples and explanations. The basic principles are given, but there is not enough about the actual successful applications of these principles. I felt frustrated throughout the book when he would continually make references to a brief overview of a military event to prove his point or when he mentions "a well known company." The "well known companies," he would use these as support for his arguments/theories on how to apply them in business. He would say how the companies did this and that, and brought about certain results. I was left so frustrated because I wanted DETAILS! I wanted to know who these companies were and see for myself what happened and what significance it had to the company. Sadly, he hardly gives you any of this.
You are better off reading books written by Executives(active or retired). They will give you a perspective that is more pragmatic and more 'ordinary' if you will. And don't make shortcuts, actually read 'The Art of War' if you care about this topic.
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Great book for people w/o a business sense! ( spam1@sonous.com )
Ignore the first review of this book - it seems to be by a person who's not read it, but feels that they know what it's about.I'm finding this book an ESPECIALLY great read, coming from a non-business point of view. If anything, I'm an engineer, and this book clearly lays out things that make you think "hmm, that's plainly clear, but I would have never realized it". It doesn't give you answers on how to run your own business, but it gives you the methods for finding them. highly recommented
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