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The Art of the Advantage
Book

The Art of the Advantage

36 Strategies to Seize the Competitive Edge

Kaihan Krippendorff
Thomson Texere, 2003

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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Applicable

Recommendation

Author Kaihan Krippendorff, an expert on Sun Tzu and Chinese military strategy, applies the Chinese classic The 36 Stratagems to modern business thinking. Individually, the stratagems are rarely a revelation - the case studies show that many corporations already utilize them - but the larger point, that Eastern or Taoist thinking offers new options for the Western business strategist, is very useful and offers a real paradigm shift. Some of the stratagems need more discussion, and the connection between some stratagems and their accompanying case studies is shaky, but this is an excellent introduction to a neglected classic. Its strategies (an ethical minefield if you take them too literally) are not limited to battlefields or businesses. getAbstract recommends this book to business strategists, policymakers and those struggling with competition. It is also valuable for anyone working in or facing competition from East Asia, where these stratagems are already well known and widely used.

Take-Aways

  • Western thought is only one way to view business strategy - and the world - and it can be quite limiting. Using Eastern or Taoist concepts can expand your strategic options.
  • The 36 Stratagems is a classic of military thinking akin to the famous The Art of War.
  • These brief aphorisms, compiled over the course of 1,000 years, have been proven effective during more than 2,500 years of war, politics and business.

About the Author

A longtime student of Eastern philosophy, Kaihan Krippendorff earned his M.B.A at Columbia University and a bachelors in finance and engineering from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering and Wharton Business School. He has worked at McKinsey & Company, Deloitte Consulting, Matsumoto Group and Calhoun Baker.

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