Careful, well-considered, and disciplined application of knowledge gained from experience, observation, and study can combine to create optimal conditions for success, in war and in business. Further, according to Sun Tzu, commitment to remaining focused on one's strategic objectives is also very important. Toward that end, attention from those strategic objectives should not be dissipated.

One should therefore avoid petty distractions from the goals and tasks at hand, or building unnecessary complexities into one's strategic tactics and operations. However, it is also important, according to Sun Tzu, to match suitability of one's strategies and tactics to the environment and atmosphere (i.e., market conditions) within which one operates. One must try to understand, and to guard against any inherent disadvantages (and there generally always are some of these) contained within every positive competitive situation. In business, an example of this might be that of a company that becomes successful enough to expand its operations (which is positive), but then spreads its resources too thin, and then needs to cut back (or even, if too overextended, goes out of business. Sun Tzu implies that within every good advantage or opportunity, there is also the seed of something less advantageous, so one must beware of disadvantages contained within advantages. In the same vein, though, one must also always be on the lookout for situations that are advantageous because of another's misfortune or disadvantage. Situations like these might be, for example, buying a business at a good price because it is going bankrupt, or buying once inflated but now "beaten up" stock at a low price, and then allowing the stock's value to increase again before selling it.

While practicing such strategies and tactics, however, one must always endeavor to behave morally and ethically in all areas and ways. One must always be prepared, not simply hope one's...

One must also acquire well-balanced skills and resources, so they may be summoned whenever needed, e.g., within a typical business environment, one must find and optimally train and prepare managers; marketing experts; budget handlers; human resources personnel; liaisons with other businesses and the community, etc. In that way, whenever a particular skill or background is needed, it is available for effective use. One must minimize emotions in decision-making, that is (for example) know and understand the difference between hoping a plan or tactic will work and knowing that it will, and then act accordingly. All in all, internal discipline, organization, and good resource building, allocation and utilization will help to bring success to one's enterprise.
Another, and perhaps the most important, of Sun Tzu's recommendations is to practice deceiving one's opponent (or competition), but, in the same vein, to be wary of also being deceived or misled. When possible, take pre-emptive action so this cannot happen. In general, as Sun Tzu suggests, to mislead one's opponent is a very important key to success. In fact, as Sun Tzu suggests, warfare itself (and, by association, business), is "a philosophy of deception."

In this essay, I have analyzed some of the most important of the Chinese army general Sun Tzu's ancient war tactics, as described within his book The Art of War. I have also suggested various ways that, and have given examples of, how such strategies and practices apply to business, even today. In many businesses, e.g., Wal-Mart; Toyota Motor Company, Dell Computers, and other industry leaders, one can even identify various ancient war strategies, tactics, and practices, as recommended by Sun Tzu in The Art of War, in everyday operation.

Works Cited

Tzu, Sun. (2005) The art of war. Special Edition. Lionel Giles (trans.). El Paso,

TX: El Paso Norte Press.