Academic literature on the topic 'The Art of War by Sun-tzu'

Approved for public release; distribution in unlimited.<br>The principles of Sun Tzu's Art of War have been widely used by business executives and military officers with much success in the realm of competition and conflict. However, when conflict situations arise in a highly stressful environment coupled with the pressure of time, decision makers may not be able to consider all the key concepts when forming their decisions or strategies. Therefore, a structured reasoning approach may be used to apply Sun Tzu's principles correctly and fully. Sun Tzu's principles are believed to be able to be modeled mathematically; hence, a Bayesian Network model (a form of mathematical tool using probability theory) is used to capture Sun Tzu's principles and provide the structured reasoning approach. Scholars have identified incompleteness in Sun Tzu's appreciation of information in war and his application of secret agents. This incompleteness resulted in circular reasoning when both sides of the conflict apply his principles. This circular reasoning can be resolved through the use of advanced probability theory. A Bayesian Network Model however, not only provides a structured reasoning approach, but more importantly, it can also resolve the circular reasoning problem that has been identified.<br>Captain, Singapore Army

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: If you want peace make ready for war! This was what Sun Tzu believed when conveying his philosophies in his book the Art of War. What is remarkable about the Art of War is that it was written about 2300 years ago and presented a new way of thinking about battle. Sun Tzu did not promote engaging in battle but rather overcoming the enemy without having to do battle. "100 victories in 100 battles is not the most skilful. Subduing without battle is the most skilful" (Denma Translation: 2003: 25 - 26). The Sun Tzu begins with the understanding that conflict is an integral part of human life. It is within us and all around us. Sometimes we can skilfully sidestep it, but at other times we must confront it directly. Many of us have seen the destructive power of aggression, whether on a personal level or in the disasters of armed conflict. We know as well the limitations of most political and personal responses to that aggression. How can we work with it in a more profound and effective way? (Denma Translation: 2003: 2). As in modem day society conflict is ever present and the manner in which we deal with such conflict either resolves the conflict or exacerbates it. One way of dealing with conflict is through negotiations. The negotiation process is an orderly process whereby parties can engage each other in dialogue in order to reach a mutually acceptable agreement. What is evident is that to be successful in a negotiation the necessary planning and preparation needs to be done. Although it is not possible to prepare and plan for all eventualities within the negotiation process most scenarios can be predicted and therefore if the required preparation is done the possibility of reaching one's objective is increased. When preparing for negotiations it is imperative that all environments that can impact on the negotiation are considered. Furthermore the organisational and personal power of the negotiator and the other party needs to be determined. Within the negotiation process the negotiator will display certain behaviours depending what he/she wishes to achieve. Should the negotiator wish to drive the negotiation then behaviours such as providing information or making proposals will be used. On the other hand, if the negotiator wishes to draw the other party into the negotiation then the behaviour of seeking information and summarising would be used. The outcome of a negotiation could be one of four, namely lose -lose, win -lose, win - win or mutual gains. There are different approaches to negotiation, namely soft, hard and principled. It is suggested that the most appropriate approach is the principled approach, although the soft and hard approach could be used under certain circumstances. A negotiation is a systematic process and involves the aspect of planning. Without planning negotiations are sure to fail and the objective set not reached. The types of planning that need to be done are strategic, tactical and administrative. Instead of opposing each other the planning aspects of negotiation complement each other. Sun Tzu proposes ways to settle a conflict without engaging in battle. Although the learned strategist does not promote negotiation directly when reading the 'Art of War' it becomes evident that Sun Tzu preferred to resolve conflicts in a peaceful manner. It was only when no other option was available that he suggests battle. In war most of the planning and preparation involves strategies, which is similar in the negotiation process. It is important that a negotiator knows when to move, when to stand fast and when to engage the other party. This is also true for any military engagement. Sun Tzu sets out philosophies, which can be used to strategise for negotiation. Although a bit of poetic licence exists when interpreting Sun Tzu's philosophy for the negotiation arena, what the learned author contributes to the field of negotiation is to make the negotiator aware of the options available. The Art of War provides insight into creative thinking where Sun Tzu spells out that it is better to conquer the enemy without engaging in battle. Furthermore the less of the enemy's possessions destroyed the more astute the leader and lastly, that one must not engage in battle because of the wrath of the leaders. In other words it should not be retaliation because the leader's ego is bruised. Sun Tzu provides wisdom, which can be utilised in the negotiation process. The interpretation of Sun Tzu's strategies provides a framework for negotiators to strategise when entering into negotiations.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: As jy Vrede wil hê, maak reg vir 'n oorlog! Dit is wat Sun Tzu geglo het toe hy sy filosofie in die boek Art of War, weergegee het. "100 victories in 100 battles is not the most skilful. Subduing without battle is the most skilful" (Denma vertaling: 2003: 25-26). Sun Tzu gaan van die veronderstelling uit dat konflik 'n integrale deel van die menslike bestaan is. Dit is binne in ons en orals om ons. Somtyds kan ons dit behendig systap maar ander kere moet ons dit direk hanteer. Baie van ons het al die destruktiewe krag van agressie gesien, hetsy op persoonlike vlak of in rampspoedige gewapende konflikte. Ons ken ook die beperkings van die meeste politieke of persoonlik reaksies op die tipe aggressie. Hoe kan ons dit op 'n meer diepgaande en effektiewe manier hanteer? (Denma vertaling: 2003: 25-26) Soos ook in die moderne samelewing is konflik alom teenwoordig en die wyse hoe dit hanteer word kan dit of oplos, of vererger. Een metode om konflik te hanteer is deur onderhandeling. Die proses van onderhandeling is 'n ordelike proses waardeur partye met mekaar in gesprek tree ten einde tot 'n wedersyds aanvaarbare ooreenkoms te bereik. Dit blyk dat ten einde suksesvol te wees in onderhandelings die nodige beplanning en voorbereiding gedoen moet word. Alhoewel dit is nie moontlik is om te beplan vir alle gebeurlikhede tydens die onderhandelinge nie, kan die meeste scenario's egter voorspel word. Indien die nodige voorbereiding dus gedoen word kan dit jou kanse om jou eie doelwitte te bereik, verhoog. Wanneer voorberei word vir onderhandelings is dit noodsaaklik dat alle omgewings invloede wat 'n impak kan hê daarop oorweeg word. Verder moet die organisatoriese en persoonlike mag van die onderhandelaar en die ander party bepaal word.Tydens die onderhandelings proses sal die onderhandelaar sekere gedrag toon afhangend van wat hy/sy uit die onderhandelings wil verkry. Indien die onderhandelaar hoop om die onderhandelings te lei, sal gedrag soos om inligting te verskaf en om voorstelle maak, gebruik word. Indien die onderhandelaar andersyds eerder die ander partye wil betrokke kry by die onderhandelings, sal gedrag soos die soeke na inligting en om opsommings te maak, getoon word. Die uitkoms van onderhandelings kan een van vier moontlikhede wees, naamlik: verloor-verloor, wenverloor, wen-wen of beide partye baat. Daar is verskillende benaderings tot onderhandeling naamlik die sagte, die harde en die beginselvaste benadering. Dit word aan die hand gedoen dat die mees toepaslike benadering die beginselvaste benadering is maar dat die sagte of aggressiewe (harde) benadering ook onder sekere omstandighede gebruik kan word.Onderhandelinge is 'n sistematiese proses en behels beplanning. Sonder beplanning is onderhandelings gedoem tot mislukking en is die doelwitte nie haalbaar nie. Die tipe beplanning wat gedoen moet word is strategies, takties en administratief. Die verskillende tipes beplanning komplementeer mekaar eerder as om mekaar te opponeer. Sun Tzu voorsien metodes hoe om konflik te besleg sonder om in oorlog betrokke te raak. Hoewel die geleerde strateeg nie onderhandelings direk promoveer nie blyk dit by die lees van The Art of War dat Sun Tzu verkies on konflik op 'n vreedsame wyse op te los. Dit was slegs wanneer geen ander opsie beskikbaar was nie dat hy oorlog voorstel. Tydens oorlog word beplanning en voorbereiding gewy aan strategie wat baie ooreenkom met die van die onderhandelingsproses. Dit is belangrik dat die onderhandelaar weet wanneer om te beweeg, wanneer om vas te staan en wanneer om die ander party te betrek.Hierdie is ook belangrik vir enige militêre aanval. Sun Tzu se filisofie kan dus ook gebruik word vir strategie beplanning vir onderhandeling. Hoewel 'n mate van poëtiese vaardigheid benodig word vir die intepretering van Sun Tzu se filosofie in die onderhandelings arena word die geleerde outeur se bydrae op die onderhandelings gebied gemaak daardeur dat die onderhandelaar bewus gemaak word van sy beskikbare opsies. The Art of War gee insig in kreatiewe denke waar Sun Tzu dit uitspel dat dit beter is om die vyand te oorwin sonder om in 'n geveg betrokke te raak. Verder word aangedui dat hoe minder van die vyand se besittings vernietig word hoe slimmer die leier en dat daar nie in 'n geveg betrokke geraak moet word vanweë die woede van die leiers nie. Met ander woorde daar moet nie vergelding wees as gevolg van die gekrenkte ego van die leier nie. Sun Tzu verskaf dus wysheid wat gebruik kan word in die onderhandelings proses. Die interpretasie van Sun Tzu se strategieë voorsien 'n raamwerk aan onderhandelaars vir stategiese beplanning wanneer betrokke geraak word in onderhandelings.

In March 1942, the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery Regiment, 36th Division, surrendered to the Japanese Imperial Army on Java in the Dutch East Indies. Shortly after the surrender, the men of the 2nd Battalion were joined as prisoners-of-war by the sailors and Marines who survived the sinking of the heavy cruiser USS Houston. From March 1942 until the end of World War II, these men lived in various Japanese prison camps throughout the Dutch East Indies, Southeast Asia, and in the Japanese home islands. Forced to labor for their captors for the duration of the conflict, they performed extremely difficult tasks, including working in industrial plants and mining coal in Japan, and most notably, constructing the infamous Burma-Thailand Death Railway. During their three-and-one-half years of captivity, these prisoners experienced brutality at the hands of the Japanese. Enduring prolonged malnutrition and extreme overwork, they suffered from numerous tropical and dietary diseases while receiving almost no medical care. Each day, these men lived in fear of being beaten and tortured, and for months at a time they witnessed the agonizing deaths of their friends and countrymen. In spite of the conditions they faced, most survived to return to the United States at war's end. This study examines the experiences of these former prisoners from 1940 to 1945 and attempts to explain how they survived.

This works explores how to work with Event scores as a design method. In the search for what is real or what is reality the already existing things are being explored. The work started with investigating suitable ways to work with the moving body in the design process, with the aim to find a method that gave control but also left some parameters to the undecided and ambiguous. Convinced that this will lead to something new some parts of the process were highlighted and re-formulated.<br>Program: Modedesignutbildningen

Aristotle stated in his Poetics that theatre's dual purpose was to educate and entertain. Centuries later the Roman Horace and Indian Bharata echoed his same sentiments. I intend to realize all three theorist's ideas on the theatre by creating an original educational and entertaining work and bringing it to performance. The audience will retain information without being aware of learning if it is presented in a pleasurable way. The most important geopolitical relationship of this century will be between China and America. In order to educate the American public about the culture of The Middle Kingdom, I propose to write and direct my own play, condensing all three thousand years of Chinese literature into a one hundred and ten minute performance. I will benefit from the personal nature of this thesis by experiencing every stage of a play's production: from idea to page to performance. My thesis will be made of three major parts: conceiving and writing the play, a journal of directing the debut production, and a third section made of choices, influences, and reflection on the entire experience. In this manner, the ideas swirling in my head may be made clear to others reading this thesis. The play itself will be a comical distillation of ten selected works of Chinese literature. Four non-gender specific American actors will seem to make up the show as it performs in a tongue-in-cheek way. Taking my stated goal of entertaining and educating the audience to heart, the overarching plot of the play will center on the four actors teaching the audience about the literature and culture of China by acting out scenes and telling stories. The information in the scenes will be targeted to a normal American citizen's educational level with liberal doses of humor added. The four actors will be playing fictionalized versions of themselves and at times breaking character by explaining and setting up the theatricality of the piece to the audience. Part of the fun of the show will be seeing how these actors explain a subject as obtuse as Chinese literature to Americans. Perhaps a cooking metaphor is the best way to think of the play: I will chop up raw Chinese literature, the actors will boil it onstage, the theatregoer will consume the mix, and exit the theatre full of entertaining intellectual nourishment. My experiences directing and producing the finished play will be recorded in a journal as a resource for future directors. I imagine directing the play will be the most challenging aspect of this thesis. How is the play changed when other people interact with it? How will the audience receive it? In addition, Committee Chair Mark Routhier and my thesis Committee Members, Mark Brotherton and Tan Huaixiang, will also give written responses to the play's performances. The play will be performed October 10-13, 2013 in the University of Central Florida's Performing Arts Complex Studio 2 classroom. In the final section I will write a reflection on the entire process. This will serve the dual purpose of giving me a place to collect my thoughts and giving others a special insight to the growth they might experience when producing this play. Foremost among my influences in writing a play with this subject matter are the style and tone of The Reduced Shakespeare Company.<br>M.A.<br>Masters<br>Theatre<br>Arts and Humanities<br>Theatre

This dissertation offers a framework for understanding the strategies of states engaged in competition for regional hegemony. Although international relations literature refers extensively to such competition and obliquely to states' strategies, to date little has been done to show how states' strategies in such competition may be analyzed. Drawing on a variety of strategic literature, this dissertation synthesizes a theoretical approach to analyzing the strategies of states engaged in regional security competition. Employing insights drawn from business strategy, this dissertation argues for an essentially asymmetric understanding of fundamental policy goals for states engaged in competition for regional hegemony, with one state attempting to maintain a dominant position and another attempting, by focusing limited resources, to supplant it. The competition is understood metaphorically (based on an anecdote from the end of the Cold War) as a “race with no finish line,” with the reigning hegemon attempting to extend the race and the challenger attempting to create a finish line and cross it. With homage to realism, liberalism, and constructivism, possible state goals are categorized as belonging to three realms: security, welfare, and intangible goals. These are used as metrics for a state's success or failure in any given competitive scenario, as well as the resources at its disposal. Drawing on military strategic literature, this thesis then applies decision-cycle analysis to state competitive behavior. The conclusions from this analysis are then synthesized into a framework for analysis of similar regional competitive scenarios, the first such framework yet devised for such purposes. A case study: the “Dreadnought Race” between Britain and Germany prior to World War One, is then examined, in which states' performance is analyzed in the competitive scenario in light of the above strategic precepts.

碩士<br>僑光技術學院<br>管理研究所<br>94<br>After Taiwan became a member of World Trade Organisation, small and medium enterprises have spread to the world because of globalization. With the intense competition and the advancement of technology, every business has to keep absorbing information and improving efficiency in order to keep up with the changing environment. As enterprises face different management phases, they have to create new strategies on their angles, disposition, management skills, predominance, and values. Only by this way can they keep what they already have and try to win more. The range of administration on strategy management covers strategy on planning, discharging, and controlling. Using the SWOT analysis to from a whole circulation strategy management.This research focuses on the ideas of The Art of War and management skills with application of enterprise management skills, which also combines the ideas of “cautious defeating” (win first and then start war), “being a seer” (know the enemy first and every battle is won), “taking initiatives” (give or not to give), “winning all” (winning the battle without the war).This research will use the method of data analysis and history analysis to assist industries with their being possessed with “concepts” and “abilities” of management strategies to lead out the structure of strategy management of The Art of War in such a hectic changing environment. In addition, they can also be applied to reinforce the process of “decision-making” and “putting into practice.” The overall theoretical framework and feasible guidelines will be undoubtedly of great importance to the unpredictability of constantly-changing business environment.

博士<br>銘傳大學<br>應用中國文學系<br>105<br>This paper mainly discusses the ideological connotation on tactics of Zizhi Tongjian. It explores military science theory which can be used for reference from the historical battles in the book. On the basis of spirits of Tongjian edited by Sima Guang, it explores thrilling war history described in the book and combs the consistent part with military science theory. Military science theory takes the Art of War of Sun Tzu as the basis, and summarizes the essence of thought of Sun Wu, a Chinese military master, such as “The Moral Law; Heaven; Earth; The Commander; Method and discipline” and “supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy‘s resistance without fighting, the highest form of generalship is to balk enemy‘s plans, the skillful fighter puts himself into a position which makes defeat impossible, heedful for war, complete victory and so on”. Besides praising the talents of Sima Guang on history, literature, political and science, the study purpose aims to highlight the achievements of Sima Guang on military science discussions. The author takes reference inductive analysis, historical research and other methods to discuss the essence of Tongjian, and uses table formats to show the contents of Art of War of Sun Tzu or Seven Military Classics cited in the text of Tongjian, so as to verify the military science thought contained in Tongjian. Main structure of this paper is from Chapter IV to Chapter VI, and details of each chapter are listed in annexes in chart format. Main points discussed in this paper include three aspects. First, it uses military thought extended by “five constant factors” in the Art of War of Sun Tzu to distinguish three major fields; “Strategic Thinking (the Moral Law), tactical guidance (Heaven and Earth), and military management principle (Commander and Method & Discipline). Second, it cites the examples in the original text of Tongjian and describes the ideological connotation of military science. Third, it uses military science in Tongjian for alert and proposes “Reflections and Reference”. Based on above conclusion, it is expected to provide references for Tongjian researchers and general decision-makers.

碩士<br>國立中山大學<br>企業管理學系研究所<br>93<br>“who know to plan in future that will be everything good、you will worry about something happen if do not thing it well” is explain one thing，person、company、group or country who know to plan for future then it will be good，if the leader just thing right now then trouble will be happen maybe。This is a sentence in “ book” a simple sentence can tell us the important of plan，like the kind of wisdom of saint it is too little to find at present。 in “ book” can find that wisdom，of course can find in ”Sun Tzu on the Art of War ” too，for example on ”Sun Tzu on the Art of War ” Tactics of chapter IV ：In ancient times the adepts in warfare would first place themselves in an invulnerable position before they would wait to seize some favourable opportunity to defeat the enemy。To secure oneself against defeat depends one’s own efforts，while the opportunity of victory must be afforded by the enemy。Thus even the adapts in warfare can only prepare themselves secure against defeat but they can not be sure of opportunities for victory，which must be provided by the enemy。Therefore it may be said：one may victory but no one can create victory。Victory or defeat in ”Sun Tzu on the Art of War ” clearly to tell us ：if you want to get victory you must be more powerful than enemy，we can know whether victory or defeat but can not do it by grudgingly。This is the ”Sun Tzu on the Art of War ” of wisdom more than other people，use few word can tell us the high-toned reason。 Research strategy is important for run a company，especially multinational company need more and more good strategy to help business 。right now “CHINA“ is the focal point of around the world’s economy， to invest “CHINA“ is an assignment of multinational company，so how to invest in “CHINA“ become a popularly topic。Since 2002 “CHINA“ relax restrictions for chain of company，a lot of company have invested，particularly “7-ELEVEN ” decide to invested “CHINA“ in 2004，the biggest shareholder of “7-ELEVEN ” of Japan’ IY GROUP decided the first place was “bei jing of china ” ，at the same time another three alliance of “7-ELEVEN ”（Taiwan、Hong kong、Thailand）had strong interchange with Japan’ IY GROUP by their plan to invest china，Taiwan’s 7-ELEVEN even use 3641 store become their stake to negotiate with Japan’ IY GROUP，expect Japan’ IY GROUP will said yes for invested china。Right now to invest China is become very important global-logistical strategy for every multinational company。 The business environment of global thought，the “7-ELEVEN” invest to “CHINA“ can not just thinking profit of short-term，maybe think about another three alliance of “7-ELEVEN ” which want to invest “CHINA“ too，but if we look at this from a business standpoint，opportunity is come from market so it is difficult to share others，in the contradictory case it is hard to decide how to do will be best strategy or worst strategy？how to plan the strategy will be a good decide between leader and alliance ？this thesis is going to analysis differ strategy strength and weakness according to “IY GROUP ” and “Taiwan ” position thinking。The tool to support my thesis is use ”Sun Tzu on the Art of War ”，use principles of war of ”Sun Tzu on the Art of War ” to analysis theory of strategy of “7-ELEVEN ” invest China，to think any situation in real business，integrate theory and business