Sun Tsu and Machiavelli

Paper Summary:

The writer of this paper details how the necessity of strategy has made Sun Tsu and Machiavelli extremely popular subjects in business classes around the country. This paper examines the principles and strategic views of both Sun Tsu and Machiavelli while discussing their relevance in today's business world. This paper explores the various reasons both Machiavelli and Sun Tsu have been criticized for their ruthlessness. The writer delves into the issue of ethics and morality as a tactical strategy as detailed in Machiavelli's "The Prince" which is often read as a purely strategic text. The writer contends and explains why business is war and that the tactics of warfare and diplomacy make good business. This paper details the five governing factors that must be taken into account in both warfare and business as dictated in Sun Tsu's "The Art of War." This paper analyzes how the Coca Cola Corporation successfully applied Sun Tsu's "Stratagem of Sowing Discord" in a campaign to outsell Pepsi Corp.

From the Paper:

"This stress on morality as well as tactical strategy may seem antithetical to Machiavelli's advice to The Prince, which is often read as a purely strategic text. But both leaders counsel not higher aims, but what is tactically practical, and having a rallying cause is necessary to inspire the troops, ad well as to know one's enemy. Both leaders also give advice as to how to win over different nations, and stress the need to stay in power, as well as to purely acquire power. And Machiavelli notes, it "cannot be called talent to slay fellow-citizens, to deceive friends, to be without faith, without mercy, without religion; such methods may gain empire," in the short run, "but not glory," and long-lasting security for the ruler."

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