The Art of Public Strategy

The Art of Public Strategy

Author: Geoff Mulgan

Publisher: OUP Oxford

Published: 2010-07-08

Total Pages: 320

ISBN-13: 0191615676

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The strategies adopted by governments and public officials can have dramatic effects on peoples' lives. The best ones can transform economic laggards into trailblazers, eliminate diseases, or sharply cut crime. Strategic failures can result in highly visible disasters, like the shrinking of the Russian economy in the 1990s, or the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005. This book is about how strategies take shape, and how money, people, technologies, and public commitment can be mobilized to achieve important goals. It considers the common mistakes made, and how these can be avoided, as well as analysing the tools governments can use to meet their goals, from targets and behaviour change programmes, to innovation and risk management. Written by Geoff Mulgan, a former head of policy for the UK prime minister, and advisor to governments round the world, it is packed with examples, and shaped by the author's practical experience. The author shows that governments which give more weight to the long-term are not only more likely to leave their citizens richer, healthier, and safer; they're also better protected from being blown off course by short-term pressures. The book is essential reading for anyone involved in running public organizations - from hospitals and schools to national government departments and local councils - and for anyone interested in how government really works.


Book Synopsis The Art of Public Strategy by : Geoff Mulgan

Download or read book The Art of Public Strategy written by Geoff Mulgan and published by OUP Oxford. This book was released on 2010-07-08 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The strategies adopted by governments and public officials can have dramatic effects on peoples' lives. The best ones can transform economic laggards into trailblazers, eliminate diseases, or sharply cut crime. Strategic failures can result in highly visible disasters, like the shrinking of the Russian economy in the 1990s, or the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005. This book is about how strategies take shape, and how money, people, technologies, and public commitment can be mobilized to achieve important goals. It considers the common mistakes made, and how these can be avoided, as well as analysing the tools governments can use to meet their goals, from targets and behaviour change programmes, to innovation and risk management. Written by Geoff Mulgan, a former head of policy for the UK prime minister, and advisor to governments round the world, it is packed with examples, and shaped by the author's practical experience. The author shows that governments which give more weight to the long-term are not only more likely to leave their citizens richer, healthier, and safer; they're also better protected from being blown off course by short-term pressures. The book is essential reading for anyone involved in running public organizations - from hospitals and schools to national government departments and local councils - and for anyone interested in how government really works.

The Art of Strategy: A Game Theorist's Guide to Success in Business and Life

The Art of Strategy: A Game Theorist's Guide to Success in Business and Life

Author: Avinash K. Dixit

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company

Published: 2010-01-04

Total Pages: 512

ISBN-13: 9780393069952

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“I am hard pressed to think of another book that can match the combination of practical insights and reading enjoyment.”—Steven Levitt Game theory means rigorous strategic thinking. It’s the art of anticipating your opponent’s next moves, knowing full well that your rival is trying to do the same thing to you. Though parts of game theory involve simple common sense, much is counterintuitive, and it can only be mastered by developing a new way of seeing the world. Using a diverse array of rich case studies—from pop culture, TV, movies, sports, politics, and history—the authors show how nearly every business and personal interaction has a game-theory component to it. Mastering game theory will make you more successful in business and life, and this lively book is the key to that mastery.


Book Synopsis The Art of Strategy: A Game Theorist's Guide to Success in Business and Life by : Avinash K. Dixit

Download or read book The Art of Strategy: A Game Theorist's Guide to Success in Business and Life written by Avinash K. Dixit and published by W. W. Norton & Company. This book was released on 2010-01-04 with total page 512 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “I am hard pressed to think of another book that can match the combination of practical insights and reading enjoyment.”—Steven Levitt Game theory means rigorous strategic thinking. It’s the art of anticipating your opponent’s next moves, knowing full well that your rival is trying to do the same thing to you. Though parts of game theory involve simple common sense, much is counterintuitive, and it can only be mastered by developing a new way of seeing the world. Using a diverse array of rich case studies—from pop culture, TV, movies, sports, politics, and history—the authors show how nearly every business and personal interaction has a game-theory component to it. Mastering game theory will make you more successful in business and life, and this lively book is the key to that mastery.

Complexity and the Art of Public Policy

Complexity and the Art of Public Policy

Author: David Colander

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2016-02-16

Total Pages: 320

ISBN-13: 0691169136

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How ideas in complexity can be used to develop more effective public policy Complexity science—made possible by modern analytical and computational advances—is changing the way we think about social systems and social theory. Unfortunately, economists' policy models have not kept up and are stuck in either a market fundamentalist or government control narrative. While these standard narratives are useful in some cases, they are damaging in others, directing thinking away from creative, innovative policy solutions. Complexity and the Art of Public Policy outlines a new, more flexible policy narrative, which envisions society as a complex evolving system that is uncontrollable but can be influenced. David Colander and Roland Kupers describe how economists and society became locked into the current policy framework, and lay out fresh alternatives for framing policy questions. Offering original solutions to stubborn problems, the complexity narrative builds on broader philosophical traditions, such as those in the work of John Stuart Mill, to suggest initiatives that the authors call "activist laissez-faire" policies. Colander and Kupers develop innovative bottom-up solutions that, through new institutional structures such as for-benefit corporations, channel individuals’ social instincts into solving societal problems, making profits a tool for change rather than a goal. They argue that a central role for government in this complexity framework is to foster an ecostructure within which diverse forms of social entrepreneurship can emerge and blossom.


Book Synopsis Complexity and the Art of Public Policy by : David Colander

Download or read book Complexity and the Art of Public Policy written by David Colander and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2016-02-16 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How ideas in complexity can be used to develop more effective public policy Complexity science—made possible by modern analytical and computational advances—is changing the way we think about social systems and social theory. Unfortunately, economists' policy models have not kept up and are stuck in either a market fundamentalist or government control narrative. While these standard narratives are useful in some cases, they are damaging in others, directing thinking away from creative, innovative policy solutions. Complexity and the Art of Public Policy outlines a new, more flexible policy narrative, which envisions society as a complex evolving system that is uncontrollable but can be influenced. David Colander and Roland Kupers describe how economists and society became locked into the current policy framework, and lay out fresh alternatives for framing policy questions. Offering original solutions to stubborn problems, the complexity narrative builds on broader philosophical traditions, such as those in the work of John Stuart Mill, to suggest initiatives that the authors call "activist laissez-faire" policies. Colander and Kupers develop innovative bottom-up solutions that, through new institutional structures such as for-benefit corporations, channel individuals’ social instincts into solving societal problems, making profits a tool for change rather than a goal. They argue that a central role for government in this complexity framework is to foster an ecostructure within which diverse forms of social entrepreneurship can emerge and blossom.

Your Strategy Needs a Strategy

Your Strategy Needs a Strategy

Author: Martin Reeves

Publisher: Harvard Business Review Press

Published: 2015-05-19

Total Pages: 281

ISBN-13: 1625275870

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You think you have a winning strategy. But do you? Executives are bombarded with bestselling ideas and best practices for achieving competitive advantage, but many of these ideas and practices contradict each other. Should you aim to be big or fast? Should you create a blue ocean, be adaptive, play to win—or forget about a sustainable competitive advantage altogether? In a business environment that is changing faster and becoming more uncertain and complex almost by the day, it’s never been more important—or more difficult—to choose the right approach to strategy. In this book, The Boston Consulting Group’s Martin Reeves, Knut Haanæs, and Janmejaya Sinha offer a proven method to determine the strategy approach that is best for your company. They start by helping you assess your business environment—how unpredictable it is, how much power you have to change it, and how harsh it is—a critical component of getting strategy right. They show how existing strategy approaches sort into five categories—Be Big, Be Fast, Be First, Be the Orchestrator, or simply Be Viable—depending on the extent of predictability, malleability, and harshness. In-depth explanations of each of these approaches will provide critical insight to help you match your approach to strategy to your environment, determine when and how to execute each one, and avoid a potentially fatal mismatch. Addressing your most pressing strategic challenges, you’ll be able to answer questions such as: • What replaces planning when the annual cycle is obsolete? • When can we—and when should we—shape the game to our advantage? • How do we simultaneously implement different strategic approaches for different business units? • How do we manage the inherent contradictions in formulating and executing different strategies across multiple businesses and geographies? Until now, no book brings it all together and offers a practical tool for understanding which strategic approach to apply. Get started today.


Book Synopsis Your Strategy Needs a Strategy by : Martin Reeves

Download or read book Your Strategy Needs a Strategy written by Martin Reeves and published by Harvard Business Review Press. This book was released on 2015-05-19 with total page 281 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: You think you have a winning strategy. But do you? Executives are bombarded with bestselling ideas and best practices for achieving competitive advantage, but many of these ideas and practices contradict each other. Should you aim to be big or fast? Should you create a blue ocean, be adaptive, play to win—or forget about a sustainable competitive advantage altogether? In a business environment that is changing faster and becoming more uncertain and complex almost by the day, it’s never been more important—or more difficult—to choose the right approach to strategy. In this book, The Boston Consulting Group’s Martin Reeves, Knut Haanæs, and Janmejaya Sinha offer a proven method to determine the strategy approach that is best for your company. They start by helping you assess your business environment—how unpredictable it is, how much power you have to change it, and how harsh it is—a critical component of getting strategy right. They show how existing strategy approaches sort into five categories—Be Big, Be Fast, Be First, Be the Orchestrator, or simply Be Viable—depending on the extent of predictability, malleability, and harshness. In-depth explanations of each of these approaches will provide critical insight to help you match your approach to strategy to your environment, determine when and how to execute each one, and avoid a potentially fatal mismatch. Addressing your most pressing strategic challenges, you’ll be able to answer questions such as: • What replaces planning when the annual cycle is obsolete? • When can we—and when should we—shape the game to our advantage? • How do we simultaneously implement different strategic approaches for different business units? • How do we manage the inherent contradictions in formulating and executing different strategies across multiple businesses and geographies? Until now, no book brings it all together and offers a practical tool for understanding which strategic approach to apply. Get started today.

Twitter is Not a Strategy

Twitter is Not a Strategy

Author: Tom Doctoroff

Publisher: Macmillan

Published: 2014-11-11

Total Pages: 268

ISBN-13: 1137279303

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A leading marketer breaks down the barriers between traditional and digital media, offering timeless principles for customer engagement


Book Synopsis Twitter is Not a Strategy by : Tom Doctoroff

Download or read book Twitter is Not a Strategy written by Tom Doctoroff and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 2014-11-11 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A leading marketer breaks down the barriers between traditional and digital media, offering timeless principles for customer engagement

The Art of War in an Age of Peace

The Art of War in an Age of Peace

Author: Michael O'Hanlon

Publisher: Yale University Press

Published: 2021

Total Pages: 300

ISBN-13: 0300256779

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An informed modern plan for post-2020 American foreign policy that avoids the opposing dangers of retrenchment and overextension Russia and China are both believed to have "grand strategies"--detailed sets of national security goals backed by means, and plans, to pursue them. In the United States, policy makers have tried to articulate similar concepts but have failed to reach a widespread consensus since the Cold War ended. While the United States has been the world's prominent superpower for over a generation, much American thinking has oscillated between the extremes of isolationist agendas versus interventionist and overly assertive ones. Drawing on historical precedents and weighing issues such as Russia's resurgence, China's great rise, North Korea's nuclear machinations, and Middle East turmoil, Michael O'Hanlon presents a well-researched, ethically sound, and politically viable vision for American national security policy. He also proposes complementing the Pentagon's set of "4+1" pre-existing threats with a new "4+1" biological, nuclear, digital, climatic, and internal dangers.


Book Synopsis The Art of War in an Age of Peace by : Michael O'Hanlon

Download or read book The Art of War in an Age of Peace written by Michael O'Hanlon and published by Yale University Press. This book was released on 2021 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An informed modern plan for post-2020 American foreign policy that avoids the opposing dangers of retrenchment and overextension Russia and China are both believed to have "grand strategies"--detailed sets of national security goals backed by means, and plans, to pursue them. In the United States, policy makers have tried to articulate similar concepts but have failed to reach a widespread consensus since the Cold War ended. While the United States has been the world's prominent superpower for over a generation, much American thinking has oscillated between the extremes of isolationist agendas versus interventionist and overly assertive ones. Drawing on historical precedents and weighing issues such as Russia's resurgence, China's great rise, North Korea's nuclear machinations, and Middle East turmoil, Michael O'Hanlon presents a well-researched, ethically sound, and politically viable vision for American national security policy. He also proposes complementing the Pentagon's set of "4+1" pre-existing threats with a new "4+1" biological, nuclear, digital, climatic, and internal dangers.

Strategy

Strategy

Author: Sir Lawrence Freedman

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2013-09-02

Total Pages: 752

ISBN-13: 0199349908

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Selected as a Financial Times Best Book of 2013 In Strategy: A History, Sir Lawrence Freedman, one of the world's leading authorities on war and international politics, captures the vast history of strategic thinking, in a consistently engaging and insightful account of how strategy came to pervade every aspect of our lives. The range of Freedman's narrative is extraordinary, moving from the surprisingly advanced strategy practiced in primate groups, to the opposing strategies of Achilles and Odysseus in The Iliad, the strategic advice of Sun Tzu and Machiavelli, the great military innovations of Baron Henri de Jomini and Carl von Clausewitz, the grounding of revolutionary strategy in class struggles by Marx, the insights into corporate strategy found in Peter Drucker and Alfred Sloan, and the contributions of the leading social scientists working on strategy today. The core issue at the heart of strategy, the author notes, is whether it is possible to manipulate and shape our environment rather than simply become the victim of forces beyond one's control. Time and again, Freedman demonstrates that the inherent unpredictability of this environment-subject to chance events, the efforts of opponents, the missteps of friends-provides strategy with its challenge and its drama. Armies or corporations or nations rarely move from one predictable state of affairs to another, but instead feel their way through a series of states, each one not quite what was anticipated, requiring a reappraisal of the original strategy, including its ultimate objective. Thus the picture of strategy that emerges in this book is one that is fluid and flexible, governed by the starting point, not the end point. A brilliant overview of the most prominent strategic theories in history, from David's use of deception against Goliath, to the modern use of game theory in economics, this masterful volume sums up a lifetime of reflection on strategy.


Book Synopsis Strategy by : Sir Lawrence Freedman

Download or read book Strategy written by Sir Lawrence Freedman and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2013-09-02 with total page 752 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Selected as a Financial Times Best Book of 2013 In Strategy: A History, Sir Lawrence Freedman, one of the world's leading authorities on war and international politics, captures the vast history of strategic thinking, in a consistently engaging and insightful account of how strategy came to pervade every aspect of our lives. The range of Freedman's narrative is extraordinary, moving from the surprisingly advanced strategy practiced in primate groups, to the opposing strategies of Achilles and Odysseus in The Iliad, the strategic advice of Sun Tzu and Machiavelli, the great military innovations of Baron Henri de Jomini and Carl von Clausewitz, the grounding of revolutionary strategy in class struggles by Marx, the insights into corporate strategy found in Peter Drucker and Alfred Sloan, and the contributions of the leading social scientists working on strategy today. The core issue at the heart of strategy, the author notes, is whether it is possible to manipulate and shape our environment rather than simply become the victim of forces beyond one's control. Time and again, Freedman demonstrates that the inherent unpredictability of this environment-subject to chance events, the efforts of opponents, the missteps of friends-provides strategy with its challenge and its drama. Armies or corporations or nations rarely move from one predictable state of affairs to another, but instead feel their way through a series of states, each one not quite what was anticipated, requiring a reappraisal of the original strategy, including its ultimate objective. Thus the picture of strategy that emerges in this book is one that is fluid and flexible, governed by the starting point, not the end point. A brilliant overview of the most prominent strategic theories in history, from David's use of deception against Goliath, to the modern use of game theory in economics, this masterful volume sums up a lifetime of reflection on strategy.

A Proven Strategy for Creating Great Art

A Proven Strategy for Creating Great Art

Author: Dan McCaw

Publisher: International Artist Publishing

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 136

ISBN-13:

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Dan McCaw is one of America's most respected artists, and with this book he reveals his oil-painting approach for creating great art, from thumbnail ideas to finishing touches. Readers will gain an understanding on the principles of light, the two basic ways to design a painting, an explanation of colour, his 5-stage development process, the art of seeing, outdoor painting, troubleshooting, and ways to broaden their thinking. Full-length, step-by-step demonstrations with generous captions, examples and explanatory sidebars ensure its value as a teaching aid for artists of all levels of ability.


Book Synopsis A Proven Strategy for Creating Great Art by : Dan McCaw

Download or read book A Proven Strategy for Creating Great Art written by Dan McCaw and published by International Artist Publishing. This book was released on 2002 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dan McCaw is one of America's most respected artists, and with this book he reveals his oil-painting approach for creating great art, from thumbnail ideas to finishing touches. Readers will gain an understanding on the principles of light, the two basic ways to design a painting, an explanation of colour, his 5-stage development process, the art of seeing, outdoor painting, troubleshooting, and ways to broaden their thinking. Full-length, step-by-step demonstrations with generous captions, examples and explanatory sidebars ensure its value as a teaching aid for artists of all levels of ability.

Writing for Public Relations and Strategic Communication

Writing for Public Relations and Strategic Communication

Author: William Thompson

Publisher:

Published: 2021-08-03

Total Pages: 444

ISBN-13: 9781793511881

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Writing for Public Relations and Strategic Communication equips students with the knowledge, skills, and tools they need to write persuasively. The book underscores the importance of strategic analysis at the beginning of the writing process. Utilizing an audience-centered perspective, it shows how persuasive writing emerges organically after critically assessing the goals of an organization's message in light of its intended audience. Students learn essential strategic thinking and planning skills to create effective and intentional writing. The book presents the theoretical underpinnings of behavior, which students can then employ to generate prose that prioritizes the audience's reasons for attending to the message. The book is unique in presenting a primer on communication, persuasion, and moral theories that provides students a roadmap for constructing effective, ethical arguments. Throughout, anecdotes, examples, quizzes, and assignments help connect theory to practical, real-world applications. Writing for Public Relations and Strategic Communication helps readers build their persuasive writing skills for professional and effective public relations, employing unique strategies and tactics, such as: --A generative writing system that helps students identify and organize important information to produce quality prose, then adapt it to various media, on deadline --Interactive walkthroughs of writing examples that deconstruct prose, offering students insights not just into what to write, but how and why practitioners make strategic choices--down to the word level --Long-form scenario prompts that allow students to hone their persuasive writing, editing, and communication management skills across an array of platforms --Three two-chapter modules where the first chapter demonstrates how to write effective prose for a particular channel and the second offers practical help in delivering those products through message-delivery channels --Detailed case studies demonstrating how to translate research and planning into storytelling that addresses organizational problems --Unique chapters building important analytical literacies, such as search engine optimization tactics, marketing statistics analysis and data-driven audience targeting methods


Book Synopsis Writing for Public Relations and Strategic Communication by : William Thompson

Download or read book Writing for Public Relations and Strategic Communication written by William Thompson and published by . This book was released on 2021-08-03 with total page 444 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Writing for Public Relations and Strategic Communication equips students with the knowledge, skills, and tools they need to write persuasively. The book underscores the importance of strategic analysis at the beginning of the writing process. Utilizing an audience-centered perspective, it shows how persuasive writing emerges organically after critically assessing the goals of an organization's message in light of its intended audience. Students learn essential strategic thinking and planning skills to create effective and intentional writing. The book presents the theoretical underpinnings of behavior, which students can then employ to generate prose that prioritizes the audience's reasons for attending to the message. The book is unique in presenting a primer on communication, persuasion, and moral theories that provides students a roadmap for constructing effective, ethical arguments. Throughout, anecdotes, examples, quizzes, and assignments help connect theory to practical, real-world applications. Writing for Public Relations and Strategic Communication helps readers build their persuasive writing skills for professional and effective public relations, employing unique strategies and tactics, such as: --A generative writing system that helps students identify and organize important information to produce quality prose, then adapt it to various media, on deadline --Interactive walkthroughs of writing examples that deconstruct prose, offering students insights not just into what to write, but how and why practitioners make strategic choices--down to the word level --Long-form scenario prompts that allow students to hone their persuasive writing, editing, and communication management skills across an array of platforms --Three two-chapter modules where the first chapter demonstrates how to write effective prose for a particular channel and the second offers practical help in delivering those products through message-delivery channels --Detailed case studies demonstrating how to translate research and planning into storytelling that addresses organizational problems --Unique chapters building important analytical literacies, such as search engine optimization tactics, marketing statistics analysis and data-driven audience targeting methods

The Art of War Plus the Art of Politics: Strategy for Campaigns

The Art of War Plus the Art of Politics: Strategy for Campaigns

Author: MR Gary J. Gagliardi

Publisher:

Published: 2014-02

Total Pages: 228

ISBN-13: 9781929194728

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Two books in one. This book contains the complete award-winning translation of Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" plus its line-by-line adaptation, "The Art of Politics," applying Sun Tzu's proven principles to winning campaigns. The two versions, the original text and its application to politics, are shown side-by-side, line-by-line. The purpose of this book is to introduce those involved in political campaigns to the strategic principles of Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" and their use in politics. In Sun Tzu's view, success goes not to the most aggressive but to those who best understand their situation and what their alternatives really are. When you have mastered Sun Tzu's system of strategy, you will be able to almost instantly analyze political situations, spot political opportunities, and make the appropriate decisions. This book addresses a range of challenges, including evaluating your supporters and voters, planning a campaign, adjusting to the local voters' specific needs, diagnosing a voter's behavior, and so on. Sample Text (Chapter One, Stanzas 1-2) "Sun Tzu said: This is war. It is the most important skill in the nation. It is the basis of life and death. It is the philosophy of survival or destruction. You must know it well." The campaigner hears: This is politics. It is the most valuable skill in any nation. It is the source of a nation's wealth or poverty. It is a course to success or disaster. You must study politics seriously. "Your skill comes from five factors. Study these factors when you plan war. You must insist on knowing your situation. 1. Discuss philosophy. 2. Discuss the climate. 3. Discuss the ground. 4. Discuss leadership. 5. Discuss military methods." Using five factors determines your political success. Consider all these factors when you analyze a given political race. You use them to know your political position: 1. Talk about your political philosophy. 2. Talk about the changing political trends. 3. Talk about the politics of the geographical area. 4. Talk about each politician's talents. 5. And talk about your campaign process. Table of Contents Art of War Art of Politics Foreword: Using Strategy in Politics 9 Introduction: Sun Tzu's Basic Concepts 17 1 Analysis 24 Your Political Position 26 2 Going to War 38 Picking a Campaign 40 3 Planning an Attack 50 Your Political Ground 52 4 Positioning 62 Positions on Issues 64 5 Momentum 74 Creative Campaigning 76 6 Weakness and Strength 86 Your Voters' Needs 88 7 Armed Conflict 102 Contacting Voters 104 8 Adaptability 116 Campaign Adjustments 118 9 Armed March 126 Moving the Campaign Forward 128 10 Field Position 146 Campaign Positions 148 11 Types of Terrain 164 Campaign Stages 166 12 Attacking with Fire 190 Firestorms of Controversy 192 13 Using Spies 202 Political Intelligence 204 Glossary of Terms in The Art of War 216 Index of Topics in The Art of War 220 About the Authors


Book Synopsis The Art of War Plus the Art of Politics: Strategy for Campaigns by : MR Gary J. Gagliardi

Download or read book The Art of War Plus the Art of Politics: Strategy for Campaigns written by MR Gary J. Gagliardi and published by . This book was released on 2014-02 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Two books in one. This book contains the complete award-winning translation of Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" plus its line-by-line adaptation, "The Art of Politics," applying Sun Tzu's proven principles to winning campaigns. The two versions, the original text and its application to politics, are shown side-by-side, line-by-line. The purpose of this book is to introduce those involved in political campaigns to the strategic principles of Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" and their use in politics. In Sun Tzu's view, success goes not to the most aggressive but to those who best understand their situation and what their alternatives really are. When you have mastered Sun Tzu's system of strategy, you will be able to almost instantly analyze political situations, spot political opportunities, and make the appropriate decisions. This book addresses a range of challenges, including evaluating your supporters and voters, planning a campaign, adjusting to the local voters' specific needs, diagnosing a voter's behavior, and so on. Sample Text (Chapter One, Stanzas 1-2) "Sun Tzu said: This is war. It is the most important skill in the nation. It is the basis of life and death. It is the philosophy of survival or destruction. You must know it well." The campaigner hears: This is politics. It is the most valuable skill in any nation. It is the source of a nation's wealth or poverty. It is a course to success or disaster. You must study politics seriously. "Your skill comes from five factors. Study these factors when you plan war. You must insist on knowing your situation. 1. Discuss philosophy. 2. Discuss the climate. 3. Discuss the ground. 4. Discuss leadership. 5. Discuss military methods." Using five factors determines your political success. Consider all these factors when you analyze a given political race. You use them to know your political position: 1. Talk about your political philosophy. 2. Talk about the changing political trends. 3. Talk about the politics of the geographical area. 4. Talk about each politician's talents. 5. And talk about your campaign process. Table of Contents Art of War Art of Politics Foreword: Using Strategy in Politics 9 Introduction: Sun Tzu's Basic Concepts 17 1 Analysis 24 Your Political Position 26 2 Going to War 38 Picking a Campaign 40 3 Planning an Attack 50 Your Political Ground 52 4 Positioning 62 Positions on Issues 64 5 Momentum 74 Creative Campaigning 76 6 Weakness and Strength 86 Your Voters' Needs 88 7 Armed Conflict 102 Contacting Voters 104 8 Adaptability 116 Campaign Adjustments 118 9 Armed March 126 Moving the Campaign Forward 128 10 Field Position 146 Campaign Positions 148 11 Types of Terrain 164 Campaign Stages 166 12 Attacking with Fire 190 Firestorms of Controversy 192 13 Using Spies 202 Political Intelligence 204 Glossary of Terms in The Art of War 216 Index of Topics in The Art of War 220 About the Authors