Business Methods and the War


Book Description







Sun Tzu and the Art of Business


Book Description

More than two millennia ago the famous Chinese general Sun Tzu wrote the classic work on military strategy, The Art of War. Now, in a new edition of Sun Tzu and the Art of Business, Mark McNeilly shows how Sun Tzu's strategic principles can be applied to twenty-first century business. Here are two books in one: McNeilly's synthesis of Sun Tzu's ideas into six strategic principles for the business executive, plus the text of Samuel B. Griffith's popular translation of The Art of War. McNeilly explains how to gain market share without inciting competitive retaliation, how to attack competitors' weak points, and how to maximize market information for competitive advantage. He demonstrates the value of speed and preparation in throwing the competition off-balance, employing strategy to beat the competition, and the need for character in leaders. Lastly, McNeilly presents a practical method to put Sun Tzu's principles into practice. By using modern examples throughout the book from Google, Zappos, Amazon, Dyson, Aflac, Singapore Airlines, Best Buy, the NFL, Tata Motors, Starbucks, and many others, he illustrates how, by following the wisdom of history's most respected strategist, executives can avoid the pitfalls of management fads and achieve lasting competitive advantage.




The Business of Civil War


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This wide-ranging, original account of the politics and economics of the giant military supply project in the North reconstructs an important but little-known part of Civil War history. Drawing on new and extensive research in army and business archives, Mark R. Wilson offers a fresh view of the wartime North and the ways in which its economy worked when the Lincoln administration, with unprecedented military effort, moved to suppress the rebellion. This task of equipping and sustaining Union forces fell to career army procurement officers. Largely free from political partisanship or any formal free-market ideology, they created a mixed military economy with a complex contracting system that they pieced together to meet the experience of civil war. Wilson argues that the North owed its victory to these professional military men and their finely tuned relationships with contractors, public officials, and war workers. Wilson also examines the obstacles military bureaucrats faced, many of which illuminated basic problems of modern political economy: the balance between efficiency and equity, the promotion of competition, and the protection of workers' welfare. The struggle over these problems determined the flow of hundreds of millions of dollars; it also redirected American political and economic development by forcing citizens to grapple with difficult questions about the proper relationships among government, business, and labor. Students of the American Civil War will welcome this fresh study of military-industrial production and procurement on the home front—long an obscure topic.




Business in the Trenches


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Business in the Trenches shows how you can exploit the lessons of the Great War to win on the business battlefield. Business in the Trenches by David Schroeder combines compelling military history with insightful business analogies. It demonstrates clearly how companies grapple with the same problems as armies at war. Business in the Trenches describes how you can leverage the experiences war to solve vexing problems and defeat the competition. Business in the Trenches takes readers through a number of fascinating stories from World War One, a time of dramatic change in warfare. It draws parallels between the problems faced by armies on the battlefield, and the problems facing businesses today. Business in the Trenches unravels the mystery of why World War One turned into the quagmire it did, and how most organizations today follow similar paths for the same reasons. Most importantly, it provides detailed and practical advice on how to deal with specific challenges and achieve breakthrough success. Schroeder demonstrates that while times may change, human nature does not. This is especially true in the high pressure worlds of business and warfare. Schroeder's common sense yet controversial theories about World War One decisions, show them to be eerily similar to those made in business today. The same forces motivate people, and they still make similar choices for similar reasons. Understanding what produces victory or disaster, and why, enables you to succeed where most fail. About the Author David Schroeder is a globally experienced business consultant, a distinguished military officer, and a critically acclaimed designer of historical military simulations. He has helped high tech companies around the world increase their productivity and profitability. He is a Colonel in the Army Reserve, and has received awards at the highest levels. He was featured along with the Army Chief of Staff in videos on improving organizational performance. Schroeder has published a number of well-received detailed studies on the Great War.




The Business of War


Book Description

This book offers a substantial reconsideration of early modern warfare and its relationship to the power of the state.




Franchising in America


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Using a series of case studies from five industries, Dicke analyzes franchising, a marketing system that combines large and small firms into a single administrative unit, strengthening both in the process. He studies the franchise industry from the 1840s to the 1980s, closely examining the rights and obligations of both the parent company and the franchise owner. Originally published in 1992. A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.




The Art of War for the Management Warrior


Book Description

The new paperback version of the world's most popular book on strategy adapted for managers plus a free download of audio book. The book includes the complete text of Sun Tzu's Art of War on the left-hand pages and a direct adaptation to management on the facing pages. The book includes the keys for a FREE download of the MP3 of the complete audio book for listening on Ipods or similar devices.




The Art of Business Wars


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"A ROLLICKING READ ABOUT THE CORPORATE WORLD'S GREATEST RIVALRIES." ADAM GRANT, New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and Originals, and host of the TED podcast WorkLife Based on the chart-topping BUSINESS WARS podcast, here are the stories and lessons from history's greatest business rivalries - retold as you've never heard them before. Some of the companies here have been featured on the podcast, many are entirely new, and ALL of the material presents a fresh perspective, with each chapter thematically inspired by a chapter of Sun Tzu's classic, The Art of War. From the pocket showdown of iPhone vs Blackberry to the epic stand-off of Beats vs Monster, The Art of Business Wars goes deep into the business trenches to explore the stories behind the stories. In this gripping study of triumph and disaster, you'll discover the real-life love spat between the co-founders of Tinder which led to the creation of its competitor Bumble, the battle of the fast fashion giants H&M and Zara where speed is everything, how Wrigley almost bit off more than it could chew, and Nintendo leveled up in America. With these and many more tales from business battlefields all over the world The Art of Business Wars reveals the strategies, positioning, dirty tricks, and eye for exploiting vulnerabilities, that make the difference between success and failure. David Brown, host of the hit podcast Business Wars, masterfully frames some of the biggest business rivalries in history using the wisdom and pragmatic advice of revered Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu. Each battle Brown examines tells a story of contending wits, strategies, and resources. He chronicles the rise of companies as they formulate innovative plans, vanquish foes, and adapt to shifting societal needs. The goal: stay ahead of the competition and emerge victorious as an industry titan. Compiling powerful insights uncovered over hundreds of episodes and more than a year of in-depth research, Brown offers an extraordinary formula for victory woven into a series of gripping, real-life tales straight from the business trenches. The stories in The Art of Business Wars are fascinating, but the lessons we draw from them - about determination, ingenuity, patience, grit, subtlety, and other key traits that contribute to a victorious enterprise - are invaluable, whether you're a software-slinging freelancer or the CEO of a multinational corporation.




Sun Tzu for Women


Book Description

In a new spin on an oft-studied classic, marketer and martial arts practitioner Becky Sheetz-Runkle reinterprets Sun Tzu's The Art of War for women in the workplace. The ancient Chinese warrior and military strategist penned the masterpiece about 2,500 years ago, but many business experts believe its precepts are as relevant in today's corporate environment as they were on ancient Chinese battlefields. Sheetz-Runkle extrapolates business lessons from Sun Tzu's maxims to help women build on their attributes, overcome obstacles and forward their careers. The book relies heavily on excerpts from the classic, along with the author's own pithy advice and stories of today's women who are the working world's modern generals. While much of the book's counsel is pretty well worn, getAbstract recommends women read this book to fortify themselves as they do battle in the corporate combat zone.