... * Sun Tzu Sun Tzu is traditionally believed to be the author of The Art of War. This was an influential ancient Chinese book on military strategy. His work is thought to have had a considerable impact on Asian, and in particular Chinese, history and culture. The recognition of The Art of War grew during the 19th and 20th centuries and has continued to influence not only Asian culture and politics but western society as well (Cultural China, 2010).The Art of War, written during a period of constant war among seven nations seeking the full control of China, discusses how important it is for an organisation, in this case an army, to be controlled, organised and ready to exploit enemy’s weaknesses. The purpose of the text is to demonstrate that structure within an organisation and mutual philosophies shared i.e. confidence, solidity and even patience can give an organisation the best opportunity to succeed in the task ahead, in this case a war. The Art of War perceives that high leadership control is the most influential component to a firm’s success, similar theories can be shown today. For example, Fiedler’s Contingency theory suggests that a good task structure and strong leader-member relations bond forms an environment where a leader has high control of a situation and greater potential to be successful (Ornstein, A 2011). Traditional accounts describe Sun Tzu as a heroic general of the King of Wu (lived c. 544—496 BCE). Victories for Sun Tzu were what inspired...
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...Sun Tzu's The Art of War Written 500 years B.C., The Art of War is a Chinese military treatise that was written by Sun Tzu during the Spring and Autumn period. The treatise is composed of 13 chapters, each of which is devoted to one aspect of the warfare. For hundreds of years, Sun Tzu’s classic treatise have been used and applied over and over again, not only in military operations, but in all aspects of the human life-to include economic, social and political relations. The Art of War is among the most ancient books published, yet its influence and success continue to amaze the world. The book has been translated and published in almost all languages of the world and its principles have been applied to all walks of life. Indeed, Sun Tzu registered a tremendous influence on both Eastern and Western military thinking, business tactics, and beyond. Even in his times, Sun Tzu had recognized the importance of positioning in strategy as affected by both the physical environment and the opinions of all players in that environment. Sun Tzu taught that tactics is more important that actions-planning must concentrate on tactics. He taught that the strategy is not to a plan course of action, but rather to establish quick and appropriate responses to changing conditions. Planning works in a controlled environment, but in a competitive environment, competing plans collide, creating unexpected situations. The following are five of the 13 principles of Sun Tzu in the Art...
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...1.0 Introduction International Business Machines, abbreviated IBM and nicknamed "Big Blue" (for its official corporate color) was incorporated in the State of New York on June 16, 1911, is a multinational computer technology and IT consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. Now, the chairman and CEO of IBM Company is Samuel J Palmisano. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and offers infrastructure services, hosting services, and consulting services in areas ranging from mainframe computers to nanotechnology. IBM has been well known as one of the world's largest computer companies and systems integrators. With over 388,000 employees worldwide, IBM is one of the largest and most profitable information technology employers in the world. IBM holds more patents than any other U.S. based Technology Company and has eight research laboratories worldwide. The company has scientists, engineers, consultants, and sales professionals in over 170 countries. IBM employees have earned Five Nobel Prizes, four Turing Awards, five National Medals of Technology, and five National Medals of Science. IBM competitors IBM's main competitors are Hewlett-Packard Company (HPQ) and Dell (DELL) but each of these companies has a different focus area. Dell makes most of its money on PC and server hardware, while Hewlett-Packard is more diversified as the leader in PCs and Imaging & Printing as well as offering IT services. Since IBM relies heavily on...
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...Inexperienced Leadership | Chapter 1 Introduction Overview of Organization The Logistics Squadron is a consolidated logistics squadron providing supply, vehicle and readiness support to the Wing, tenant units and agencies. The guiding principles utilized in the performance of the organization are as follows; a. Mission Statement: A military organization dedicated to providing logistical support to our Joint Service Community. b. Vision Statement: Provide quality service to our customers in support of their missions. c. Values: Integrity, Accountability, Teamwork and Excellence. The squadron provides direction and management of base logistics processes related to cargo mapping, equipment, fueling operations, vehicle dispatch and deployment planning. The function of the squadron is to manage the overall supplies of the wing and effectively manage its inventories. It is a part of the Air National Guard, Wing with over 150 personnel encompassing, active military, traditional guardsmen and civilians. The Logistics Readiness Officer who: a. Provides oversight of the internal storage and external shipping of logistics supply activities for the Wing b. Is responsible for managing and staffing the Material Management Flight for the logistics supply and information sections c. Actively oversees and manages proper implementation of unit programs for supply and the issue of all mobility bag assets d. Administers procedures...
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...Chapter 1 Introduction Overview of Organization The ABC Logistics Squadron is a consolidated logistics squadron providing supply, vehicle and readiness support to the ABC Wing, tenant units and agencies. The guiding principles utilized in the performance of the organization are as follows; a. Mission Statement: A military organization dedicated to providing logistical support to our Joint Service Community. b. Vision Statement: Provide quality service to our customers in support of their missions. c. Values: Integrity, Accountability, Teamwork and Excellence. The squadron provides direction and management of base logistics processes related to cargo mapping, equipment, fueling operations, vehicle dispatch and deployment planning. The function of the squadron is to manage the overall supplies of the wing and effectively manage its inventories. It is a part of the Air National Guard, ABC Wing with over 150 personnel encompassing, active military, traditional guardsmen and civilians. Currently, I am the Logistics Readiness Officer who: a. Provides oversight of the internal storage and external shipping of logistics supply activities for the ABC Wing b. Is responsible for managing and staffing the Material Management Flight for the logistics supply and information sections c. Actively oversees and manages proper implementation of unit programs for supply and the issue of all mobility bag assets d. Administers procedures, programming and staffing of individuals...
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...The Art of War In everything that we do in our life, first thing that we should do is to make plans on how we’re going to do a thing, when will do it, where we will do it, why we’re doing it and what’s the purpose of doing it. Sun Tzu emphasized the importance of positioning in military strategy. The decision to position an army must be based on both objective conditions in the physical environment and the subjective beliefs of other, competitive actors in that environment. He thought that strategy was not planning in the sense of working through an established list, but rather that it requires quick and appropriate responses to changing conditions. Planning works in a controlled environment; but in a changing environment, competing plans collide, creating unexpected situations. In the first chapter of the Art of War talks about laying plans or the calculations. Planning explores the five fundamental factors (the way, seasons, terrain, leadership and management) and seven elements that determine the outcomes of military engagement. By thinking, assessing and comparing these points, a commander can calculate his chances of victory. Habitual deviation from these calculations will ensure failure via improper action. The text stresses that war is a very grave matter for the state and must not be commenced without due consideration. In waging war or the challenge explains how to understand the economy of warfare and how success requires winning decisive engagements quickly. It...
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....1 | UNIVERSITI TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN (UTAR)FACULTY OF BUSINESS AND FINANCE (FBF) | Unit Plan 1. | Unit Code &Unit Title: | UBMM1011 SUN ZI’S ART OF WAR AND BUSINESS STRATEGIES | 2. | Course of Study: | Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) Accounting (AC)Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons) (BBA)Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons) Banking & Finance (BF)Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons) Entrepreneurship (EN)Bachelor of Economics (Hons) Financial Economics (FE)Bachelor of Finance (Hons) (FN)Bachelor of Marketing (Hons) (MK)Bachelor of Social Science (Hons) Psychology (PY)Bachelor of Arts (Hons) English Education (EL)Bachelor of Arts (Hons) English Education (ED)Bachelor of Science (Hons) Chemistry (CE)Bachelor of Science (Hons) Statistical Computing and Operations Research (SC)Bachelor of Science (Hons) Biotechnology (BT)Bachelor of Science (Hons) Microbiology (MB)Bachelor of Science (Hons) Construction Management (CM)Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Electronic Engineering (EE)Bachelor of Information Tchnology (Hons) Communications And Networking (CN)Bachelor of Computer Science & Information Systems (Hons) (CS) | 3. | Year of Study: | Y2T1/T2 (BAC) Y1T2/T3 (BBA) Y2T1/T2 (BBF) Y2T1/T2 (BEN)Y2T1/T2 (BFE) Y1T3 (BFN) Y2T1/T2 (BMK) Y3T2 (PY)Y3T1/T2 (EL) Y1T1/T2/T3 (ED) Y1T1/T2/T3 (CE) Y2T1/T2 (SC) Y1T1/T2 (BT) Y1T1/T2 (MB) Y1T1/T2 (CM) ...
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...FOUNDATIONS OF TAOIST PRACTICE by Jampa Mackenzie Stewart When you try to define Taoism, you immediately run into trouble. The great Taoist philosopher and author of the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu, begins his first chapter with the warning words, The Tao that can be described is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name. Thus Westerners are not the only ones who have a hard time defining Taoism; the Chinese have had difficulty time agreeing on just what Taoism is for millenia. Taoism is sometimes defined as a ritualistic religion, as a philosophy, as Chinese folk religion, as alchemy, as a system of magical lore, or as a series of health practices similar to yoga. The adherants of each school often look with disdain on the others as being heterodoxy, heresy, or simply incomplete portions of the great Tao. The Chinese word Tao (pronounced "dow") means "the way, the path." In the common sense it refers to the way of doing anything, or the pathway to some destination. In its higher meaning, Tao refers to the way of the universe, the way things are. As a spiritual system, Tao means the way to achieving a true understanding of the nature of mind and reality, to the way of living in harmony with the changes of Nature. Thus the Tao is the goal, the path and the journey all in one. A Taoist then, is "a follower of the Way," the same title by which the early Buddhists and Christians dubbed themselves. The earliest Taoists appeared at least four thousand years...
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...Chapter 4 1. Risk management is the process of identifying risk, as represented by vulnerabilities, to an organization’s information assets and infrastructure, and taking steps to reduce this risk to an acceptable level. 2. According to Sun Tzu, the two key understandings we must achieve to be successful in battle are Know Yourself and know the enemy. Know yourself First, you must identify, examine, and understand the information and systems currently in place within your organization. This is self-evident. To protect assets, which are defined here as information and the systems that use, store, and transmit information, you must know what they are, how they add value to the organization, and to which vulnerabilities they are susceptible. Once you know what you have, you can identify what you are already doing to protect it. Just because a control is in place does not necessarily mean that the asset is protected. Frequently, organizations implement control mechanisms but then neglect the necessary periodic review, revision, and maintenance. The policies, education and training programs, and technologies that protect information must be carefully maintained and administered to ensure that they remain effective. Know the Enemy Having identified your organization’s assets and weaknesses, you move on to Sun Tzu’s second step: Know the enemy. This means identifying, examining, and understanding the threats facing the organization. You must determine which threat aspects most...
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...Chapter 1 Mastering Strategy: Art and Science LEARNING OBJECTIVES After reading this chapter, you should be able to understand and articulate answers to the following questions: 1. What are strategic management and strategy? 2. Why does strategic management matter? 3. What elements determine firm performance? Strategic Management: A Core Concern for Apple The Opening of the Apple Store Image courtesy of Neil Bird, http://www.flickr.com/photos/nechbi/2058929337. March 2, 2011, was a huge day for Apple. The firm released its much-anticipated iPad2, a thinner and faster version of market-leading Apple’s iPad tablet device. Apple also announced that a leading publisher, Random House, had made all seventeen thousand of its books available through Apple’s iBookstore. Apple had enjoyed tremendous success for quite some time. Approximately fifteen million iPads were sold in 2010, and the price of Apple’s stock had more than tripled from early 2009 to early 2011. Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/books Saylor.org 4 But future success was far from guaranteed. The firm’s visionary founder Steve Jobs was battling serious health problems. Apple’s performance had suffered when an earlier health crisis had forced Jobs to step away from the company. This raised serious questions. Would Jobs have to step away again? If so, how might Apple maintain its excellent performance without its leader? Meanwhile, the iPad2 faced daunting competition. Samsung...
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...INTRODUCTION TO STRATEGIC MANAGENT 1.0 Introduction This chapter introduces the concept of strategic management and provides an overview of strategic management. This chapter is divided into six sections. The first section explains the evolution of the strategic management concept. This is followed by the second section on definition of strategic management. The third section describes the context in which strategic management takes place. This is followed by the fourth section which covers the scope of strategic management. The fifth section shows some of the benefits of strategic management for organizations. Finally the sixth section describes the process of strategic management. Upon the completion of this chapter you should be able to: 1. understand the concept of strategic management 2. know the brief history of the strategic management concept 3. understand the definition of strategic management 4. know the context in which strategic management occurs 5. comprehend the scope of strategic management 6. describe the benefit of strategic management 7. know the strategic management process 1.1 Introduction to the Strategic Management Concept Strategic management is a concept that originated from the military field. The concept of strategic management was first applied in ancient battles. The period around 500 B.C. saw numerous battles that took place Greece and China. The early written record on strategic management can be traced back during this warring...
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...1. What is risk management? The process of identifying risk, as represented by vulnerabilities, to an organization’’s information assets and infrastructure, and taking steps to reduce this risk to an acceptable level. Why is the identification of risks, by listing assets and their vulnerabilities, so important to the risk management process? It is a starting point for the next step in the risk management process –– risk assessment. 2. According to Sun Tzu, what two key understandings must you achieve to be successful in battle? Know the enemy and know yourself. 3. Who is responsible for risk management in an organization? Each community of interest has a role to play in managing the risks that an organization encounters. Which community of interest usually takes the lead in information security risk management? information security community 4. In risk management strategies, why must periodic review be a part of the process? To verify the completeness and accuracy of the asset inventory, review and verify the threats to and vulnerabilities in the asset inventory, as well as the current controls and mitigation strategies. Must also review the cost effectiveness of each control and revisit decisions on deployment of controls. Managers at all levels must regularly verify the ongoing effectiveness of every control deployed. 5. Why do networking components need more examination from an information security perspective than from a systems development perspective? Networking...
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...Introduction The Art of War is attributed to Sun Zi, and was originally called the “Sun Tzu Bing Fa”, or simply the Sun Zi. It written by Sun Wu about 500B.C. Sun Zi Art of War is the oldest military treatise in the world. Highly compressed, it is devote the principles and still retain such of its original authoritative merit. To the military student able to adapt its principles to modern warfare, it even now, twenty-five centuries after its preparation, is a valuable guide for the conduct of war. Although the chariot has gone and weapons have changed, this ancient master holds his own, since he deals with fundamentals, with the influence of politics and human nature on military operations. He shows in a striking way how unchanging these principles are. Therefore, Sun Zi Art of War contain with 13 chapters. There are: 1) Detailed Assessment and Planning 2) Waging War 3) Strategic Attack 4) Disposition of the Army 5) Forces 6) Weaknesses and Strengths 7) Military Maneuvers 8) Variations and Adaptability 9) Movement and Development of Troops 10) Terrain 11) The nine Battlegrounds 12) Attacking with Fire 13) Intelligence and Espionage Sun Zi’s Art of War is not only an art of war, but also a teaching material for MBA and applied into the business by modern businessperson today. Therefore, it is important to understand the exact meaning and implication of the work, in order to be familiar with the circumstances prevailing at...
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...27/05/2015 International Business Strategies TBS 984 Dr Alan Pomering T2, 2015 Week 1 Global Strategy: Preface Not a particular multinational enterprise (MNE) strategy, but “strategy around the globe” Most fundamentally about “strategy” before being “global” About entering foreign markets, but also how domestic firms strategise by competing against each other and dealing with foreign entrants 1 27/05/2015 Outline • A global global-strategy book • Why study global strategy? • What is strategy? • Fundamental questions in strategy • What is global strategy? • What is globalization? • Global strategy and globalization at a crossroads 3 Why Study Global Strategy? • Job and career aspiration opportunities • Awareness of what is going on in the world • Avoid downside risks of globalization 2 27/05/2015 Porters Critique Too Many Firms Pursue Best Practice and Seek Operational Effectiveness Through Benchmarking, TQM, JIT Etc. But This Is Not Strategy. Strategy Is About Being Different, Not Being ‘As Good As’. What is Strategy? • Origin-Greek word (strategos)-art of the general Sun Tzu, Chinese military strategist in 500 B.C. Modern-day application to business and competition dates to the 1960s • Plan versus Action - strategy is “explicit, rigorous formal planning” versus “a set of flexible, goal-oriented actions” • Strategy as Theory-how to compete successfully Firms have both intended...
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...Ch 3 Strategy 06.08.02 version 2.doc 06.08.02 Chapter 3. Strategy1 By Marylynn Placet and Kristi M. Branch The word “strategy” has been in use since Sun Tzu wrote the Art of War in the fourth century B.C. (Sun Tzu 1971). Sun Tzu wrote, of course, about military strategy. The literature on corporate strategy, which emerged in the 1950s and 1960s (Chandler 1962; Ansoff 1965; Learned et al. 1965) is vast and continues to grow at an astonishing rate. Strategic management – the way in which a firm identifies its strategic direction and aligns its operational processes to its strategy – has become an academic discipline in its own right, like marketing and finance (Mintzberg et al. 1998:18; Rumelt et al. 1994:15). In essence, strategy has to do with understanding where an organization will go in the future and how it will get there. Most academicians and corporate managers believe strategy affects the overall welfare of the corporation, and strategy making is an important activity, though a few believe firms are better off without a strategy (see Inkpen and Choudhury 1995). Many who believe strategy is important, however, find fault with the ability of formalized strategic planning processes to deal adequately with the pace of change facing organizations in today’s environment. The disruptive changes created by revolutionary technologies (including communication and information processing technologies), globalization, and new business methods can turn an organization’s...
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