Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" and Implications for Leadership: Theoretical Discussion

Vlado Dimovski, Marič Miha, Uhan Miha, Đurica Nina and Ferjan Marko
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Marič Miha: Faculty of Organizational Sciences, University of Maribor, Kidričeva cesta 55a, SI-4000 Kranj, Slovenia
Uhan Miha: Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana, Kardeljeva ploščad 17, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Đurica Nina: Higher Business School of Professional Studies Novi Sad, Vladimir Peric-Valter 4, Novi Sad, Serbia
Ferjan Marko: Faculty of Organizational Sciences, University of Maribor, Kidričeva cesta 55a, SI-4000 Kranj, Slovenia

Organizacija, 2012, vol. 45, issue 4, 151-158

Abstract: We present a study of the Art of War from a leadership perspective, one in which we make a closer connection to the context of general organization and management. The Art of War written by Sun Tzu is one of those books that could be classified in the genre of pop-culture. Although its content used to be considered as a carefully protected state secret in the past, it is now available to everyone. Its use has in the past century of moved from warfare also to other areas of human activity. Strategic advices that it contains can be used in many more areas than just the conduct in the times of war. In fact, the success in wars, as well as in business, of course, depends on leadership, which is why we identify the positive and negative attributes of a leader in relation to strategic leadership. People are those who fight in battles and are also those who win them; and the most important person in every battle is the general. Historically, a number of successful military commanders ascribe the credit for their victories to Sun Tzu's principles. In addition, this wisdom is now being examined and used by senior executives from all around the world, especially in Asia, because it can be utilized in many business and political situations. The Chinese classic "The Art of War" is still considered as one of the most influential and important works on strategy, why a discussion on theoretical and practical implications of Sun Tzu's strategic leadership theory in a global environment is also included.

Keywords: Sun Tzu; leadership; organization; Sun Tzu; leadership; organization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:vrs:organi:v:45:y:2012:i:4:p:151-158:n:1

DOI: 10.2478/v10051-012-0017-1

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