The Seven Elements that Determine Victory

The Seven Elements that Determine Victory. Principles from Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War' applied to leadership in the corporate world..

[Audio] I will be discussing seven elements that determine victory, as stated in Sun Tzu's "The Art of War". These are The Tao, Heaven, Earth, The Commander, Method and Discipline, Moral Law, and Doctrine. The Tao is the moral influence of the people and their alignment with their leader's goals. Heaven is the natural influences that can affect the outcome of a battle, such as weather, seasons, and time of day. Earth is understanding the physical environment, including distances, terrain types, and strategic locations. The Commander is the leader who must possess qualities such as wisdom, sincerity, benevolence, courage, and strictness. Method and Discipline is the structure, organization, and control of the army, including logistics, supply lines, and enforcement of orders and regulations. Moral Law is the alignment and cohesion of the army with the mission and the cause. Finally, Doctrine encompasses the planning and execution of military strategies and tactics, including the flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances. It is important to consider these seven elements when planning a successful endeavor, both in the world of warfare and in the workplace..

[Audio] Constructing a set of corporate values is essential for creating a company culture that promotes unity, commitment, and collaboration. These values need to be integrated into the goals and strategies of the company so that all employees can understand how their work fits into a larger vision. Following the Tao advocated by Sun Tzu in "The Art of War" can be seen as a principle to guide leaders in ensuring that all their efforts are directed towards a shared purpose..

[Audio] The fourth element in determining victory is public perception. How the public views your brand is an important factor to consider. A plan must be put in place to keep the brand image relevant to its target demographic while also managing PR and staying up-to-date with current social attitudes. This will help ensure that demand for the products and services remain high while addressing any negative sentiment about the brand as soon as possible..

[Audio] Earth plays an important role in Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War' as a counterbalance to heaven. This concept suggests that success is only achievable when there is a harmony between the two, and it is a reminder that strategic considerations such as geographical features, climate, and the condition of an army must be taken into account. Leaders should be aware of their physical environment and its potential impact on their future operations. In addition, they must understand the resources available to them and how to use them to their advantage in order to achieve victory. Earth is therefore both a practical and symbolic concept, and is the foundation for many successful strategies..

[Audio] Leadership can act as a guiding force to help bring teams to success, similar to the role of a wise general. Moving forward, the following slide will discuss how environmental changes are impacting ecosystems globally..

[Audio] Sun Tzu's fourth element of achieving victory is Method and Discipline. This involves setting up a clear organizational structure to define roles, responsibilities, and chains of command. Logistics and operations systems must then be established to manage inventory, supply chains, and manufacturing. Policies and procedures must be in place to create and enforce standard operating procedures, regulations, and processes. Effective communication and reporting is also necessary to ensure information flows properly for coordination through meetings, reports, and technology. All four of these elements when used together give us the best chance of achieving Sun Tzu's vision for victory..

[Audio] Sun Tzu's fifth principle in 'The Art of War' emphasizes the importance of adhering to moral law in order to be victorious, both on the battlefield and in the business world. Employee involvement and understanding of the company mission are essential to generate a sense of purpose. This in turn will directly influence customer satisfaction, and thus the success of the mission..

[Audio] Without doctrine, it is hard to understand the rules and regulations by which any organization must abide. Our corporate strategy is our doctrine, which allows us to approach each goal and benchmark with focus and clarity. We are currently looking at a benchmark in the millions, ranging from 250, 300 to 275. With this knowledge, we can have a better idea of what is needed to reach success. I'd like to thank you all for your attention and look forward to answering any questions you may have..