Strategy I – The Way

Posted by Ahsan – July 6, 2009

Musashi Miyamoto with two Bokken (wooden Stick...
Image via Wikipedia

The definition of strategy remains elusive due to the diverse contexts in which we use the word, each of which is a topic in its own right:

  • Political strategy
  • Environmental strategy
  • Military strategy
  • Business strategy

But let’s attempt some general definitions:

1. Strategy is the Way.

In The Book of Five Rings, Miyamoto Musashi refers to “the Way of Strategy”, which we can interpret as study of the Way itself. The Way is not a formula or a tactic; tactics are tools of the Way. But what is the Way ?

2. The Way is how we respond to anything and everything.

The keyword here is ‘respond‘ as opposed to ‘react‘. We Observe, Orient, Decide and Act – a single OODA Loop. The goal is to cycle through an OODA loop faster than the opponent. Indeed, in certain contexts (e.g sword-fighting) the Way can be practiced to such perfection that a response becomes a reaction – a fast OODA Loop programmed into muscle memory by sheer practice.

3. The Way has a direction.

A good strategy has an objective, which may change depending on the situation, but all loops and their variations must directed towards the success of that objective.

4. The Way is dynamic.

Not all our strategies turn out as planned, yet we deal with the changes; coping with changes itself requires a strategy. The nature and art of Strategy itself changes over time as we learn more about ourselves and the world we live in. Thus, we are eternal students of the Way.

8 Comments on Strategy I – The Way

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  1. vijay says:
    July 6, 2009 at 6:56 pm

    cool post!

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  2. yagami says:
    July 6, 2009 at 10:58 am

    宫本武藏

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  3. K.D. says:
    July 6, 2009 at 7:02 pm

    那书好厚….

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  4. Ahsan Ali says:
    July 6, 2009 at 7:02 pm

    Could someone translate the Chinese (?) comments for me ? :)

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  5. yagami says:
    July 6, 2009 at 11:09 am

    ha,sorry about that :) . I just spoke the name of the man on the pic, and K.D. said the book is kind of thick. :)

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  6. K.D. says:
    July 6, 2009 at 11:11 am

    @ Ali Normally you can use Micah’s script for translation http://wittman.org/projects/friendfeedtranslate/install/ and the name yagami mentioned is Miyamoto Musashi(宫本武藏) :)

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  7. Ahsan Ali says:
    July 6, 2009 at 7:11 pm

    Thanks :)

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  8. Micah Wittman says:
    July 6, 2009 at 7:33 pm

    Ahsan, Comment 2: "Miyamoto Musashi". Comment 3: "That a good thick book". But I just used the method K.D. suggested :D

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