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Sun Tzu: The Art of War for Managers; 50 Strategic Rules
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$10.95
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Manufacturer: Adams Media
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 658.4
EAN: 9781580624596
ISBN: 1580624596
Label: Adams Media
Manufacturer: Adams Media
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 224
Publication Date: 2001-01-01
Publisher: Adams Media
Studio: Adams Media
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Editorial Reviews:
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Organized around 50 rules for strategic thinking, The Art of War for Managers translates the strategic wisdom of Sun Tzu into powerful 10-minute lessons to enhance your business and personal success. "Michaelson is Sun Tzu's foremost student and interpreter. He brings home the business relevance of this ancient military strategist in down-to-earth language." Al Vogl, editor of The Conference Board Magazine "Brilliant work! The useful commentary in The Art of War for Managers brings Sun Tzu's timeless wisdom to a new level." Gen. Bill Creech, Author, The Five Pillars of TQM
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating: 
Summary: A good but not extraordinary read
Comment: Michaelson uses a new translation of Sun Tzu The Art of War to illustrate how the wisdom of ancient principles of combat can be applied to modern business. While much of what Sun Tzu says does not seem extraordinary or extremely profound, it might be remembered that "common sense is not so common." Though much of what Sun Tzu says might be taken for granted, it is likely human nature's propensity to ignore the obvious and the time-tested which makes Sun Tzu's work a classic. Michaelson is successful in pointing out some timeless precepts and ideas that can be applied from Sun Tzu's thought to the business world. It is also a dynamic and creative approach to an ancient text. That said, there seems to be a superficial feel to the book, as a hundred brief, different case examples of businesses (as opposed to a few in depth) don't quite illustrate with full impact the meaning and import of the wisdom of Sun Tzu's classic. So I would rate this between 3 and 4 stars - a good, but not extraordinary read.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Use this book prior to corporate strategy sessions
Comment: The greatest value I got from this book was from the way it prompted me to think laterally in new strategic directions.
It gave me a very different understanding and viewpoint of the strategic challenges I was facing and planted the seeds of several ideas which grew into very powerful and insightful strategies.
The book makes excellent tool to inject new innovation and energy into management brainstorming sessions.
Marc Folch
Customer Rating:
Summary: Managers Cookbook
Comment: This is a helpful book for helping me deal with staff. I have learned good skills that has helped me with being with a supervisor. It is easy to read and understand.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive translation and interpretation!!!
Comment: For a first time reader, this book provides a good introduction to the concepts in the Art of War by Sun Tzu.
This book briefly mentions the differences between western and eastern strategy. The book "On War" by Carl von Clausewitz is believed to be the foundation of much of the Western strategy. Clausewitzian theory concentrates on the big battle as the way to win. His work expresses so many ideas that it can be used to justify any positions and in addition, it is filled with convoluted sentences and difficult to read. On the other hand, the eastern strategist Sun Tzu's the Art of War is a masterpiece of simplicity.
The fundamental principles of strategy are the same for all managers at all times and situations. Only the tactics are likely to change. Strategy is best defined as "doing the right thing" while tactics is "doing things right". The dividing line between tactics and strategy is indicated by the point of contact. Therefore, strategy stops at the border in war and at the HQ door in business, whereas tactics begins with contact with the enemies in war and customers in business.
The book is divided into 2 parts.
Part 1 is divided into 13 chapters like the original work, sharing the same title as the original translation. Each chapter provides the correlation of the teachings to the present business world, ending with examples on actual business scenarios.
Part 2 provides a useful guide to practical applications. The practical applications are cited by real persons working in various industries, giving examples of key Sun Tzu concepts in which they have applied in their line of work.
Finally the book ends with an outline of Sun Tzu's key concepts to aid in applications and which also serves to provide a good summary of the entire book Sun Tzu's The Art of War.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Even More Relevant and Valuable Today
Comment:
The review which follows is of a book which I read when it was first published in 1999. I recently re-read it. Here are my reactions to it seven years later.
Many of those who read my reviews are owners/CEOs of small businesses. Whenever I receive an e-mail from one of them asking me to recommend books which will be of greatest practical value, I always include a choice of R.L. Wing's or Samuel B. Griffith's translation of Sun Tzu's The Art of War on the list. Occasionally, someone who has read The Art of War asks for a recommendation of related sources. There are several to select from, notably The Art of Business: In the Footsteps of Giants written by Raymond T. Yeh and Stephanie H. Yeh; two books by Mark R. McNeilly, Sun Tzu and the Art of Business and Sun Tzu and the Art of Modern Warfare; and this one, which I read when it was first published and only now am I reviewing. Here are a few of the reasons for my rating of Michaelson's book.
First, Michaelson has selected and then discusses 50 "strategic rules" suggested by Sun Tzu's classic. To facilitate and support periodic review, the key concepts are summarized on pages 169-190 and range from" Thoroughly Assess Conditions" to "Practice Counterintelligence." Don't expect any head-snappers. The greatest value of The Art of War is that it helps, indeed insists that its reader think strategically. (Please keep in mind that it was written 2,500 years ago.) Michaelson fully understands that. His purpose is to apply ancient concepts to major perils and opportunities in the contemporary.
I also appreciate Michaelson's provision of several reader-friendly sections such as those in which he quotes a passage from The Art of War and then offers a "translation" of its relevance, followed by a "Manager's Commentary" in which he recommends appropriate application of Sun Tzu's insight. Throughout his rigorous and eloquent narrative, Michaelson also includes checklists such as the one found on page 114 when he identifies "key ingredients" which are common to all growing organizations: customer focus by creating systems that deliver perceived value; selection (i.e. hiring) of decent as well as competent people; and then training them with highly-interactive learning sessions which are both formal and on-the-job.
Finally, I hold this book in high regard because Michaelson also includes 13 brief but insightful commentaries by senior-level executives who share their own real-world experiences. Fort example, Domminick Attanosio (senior advisor, Young and Partners, LLC) explains how a public pharmaceutical company developed a new delivery system to adjustable dosing of oral medications by following each of several of Sun Tzu's basic principles:
"Know the enemy and know yourself, and you can fight 100 battles with no danger of defeat."
"Travel where there is no enemy."
"Pursue one's strategic designs to overawe the enemy."
"An army can be raised only when there is money at hand."
"The general whose only interest is to protect his people and promote the best interests of his sovereign is the precious jewel of the state."
"The enlightened rulers must deliberate upon the plans to go to battle, and good generals generally execute them,."
"To subdue the enemy without fighting is the supreme excellence."
Obviously, it would be a fool's errand to manage by slogans but even more foolish to ignore what can be learned from sources such as Sun Tzu's The Art of War. The knowledge these sources provide can -- and should -- guide and inform the careful selection and then effective execution of appropriate strategies and tactics. Credit Michaelson with a thorough understanding and brilliant interpretation of what can be learned from arguably the world's first management consultant.
Bravo!
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