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2 Going to War Lessons 39-53
Overview

After introducing the key elements of strategy, Sun Tzu focuses on the economics of competition. He does not define victory as simply winning battles. Success is making victory pay. Moving to a new position has certain costs. The value of that position must outweigh those costs. This economic focus is one of the reasons that Sun Tzu's strategy works so well in today's business world, but even when the costs are not economic there are always costs in resources, time, and emotion. This chapter provides a great outline for understanding the consequences of strategic decisions and how those decisions are made in light of the costs. The chapter offers a basic analysis of the costs, risks, and benefits of going to war.


We must understand the dynamics of strategic situations. Can we control the scope of competition? Can we reduce its risks? If so, how?
For Sun Tzu, the first step is understanding the costs of action. How do we minimize our costs? Can we prevent costs from escalating?

In planning a strategy, the outcome is never certain. How should we respond to the possibility of failure? How can we balance the potential risks and the potential rewards?
We must understand the definition of success. When we enter into war, what are we trying to win? What is the reward our new position offers?

These are all questions that Sun Tzu deals with in this chapter. Strategy in the real world is more than a game. We are always risking something, if only our time and effort. We must decide before acting what our risks are and whether or not we are willing to undertake them. It is possible to “win” battles and even wars without gaining any reward worth the sacrifice. Foolish competitive battles can leave everyone a loser. Sun Tzu’s system is not a method for punishing enemies or winning bragging rights. Its only goal is winning a prize at a cost that makes it worthwhile.
 

A Little Harder Challenge:

To start the Lessons 39 - 53, click here.

In this chapter, the challenge of answering questions gets a little harder. We give you the quote from Sun Tzu and the explanation of the answer, but we don't give you the actual answer until you have been asked the question twice. See if you can get the answer correct from the explanation alone.

This lesson works just like the last. When you are asked a question, you check the box you think is correct and click the [Score and Continue] button. This will score your answer and take you to the next page (slide). You move between non-question slides using the [Next] and [Back] buttons on the bottom of the screen. Your score is shown below those buttons at the bottom of the page. You can use the [UP] button in the left column to return to this page and reset your score to zero.

Review Lessons

You can ignore the questions if you want using the [Next] and [Back] buttons just to look at the slides (except when retaking the test). You can use the [Up] button to return to this page (except when retaking test).

To retake the Final Test, click here.

 

 

 

 

 
 

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Copyright 2005-2008 Science of Strategy Institute, Clearbridge Publishing, and Gary Gagliardi
The leading publishers of books based on Sun Tzu's The Art of War