CHAPTER 5

FORCES (兵势 bīng shì)

• Effectiveness of military forces
• Interplay if direct and indirect approaches,
strategies and forces
• Momentum and timing
Chapters
1. Detailed Assessment and Planning (始计)
2. Waging War (作战)
3. Strategic Attack (谋攻)
4. Disposition of the Army (军行)
5. Forces (兵势)
6. Weaknesses and Strengths (虚实)
7. Military Maneuvers (军争)
8. Variations and Adaptability (九变)
9. Movement and Development of Troops (行军)
10. Terrain (地形)
11. The Nine Battlegrounds (九地)
12. Attacking with Fire (火攻)
13. Intelligence and Espionage (用间)
 Effectiveness Of Military Forces
• 5.1 To manage a LARGE force is similar to
managing a SMALL force.
• 5.2 It is matter of organisation and structure.
• 5.3 To direct and control a LARGE force is
similar to directing and controlling a SMALL
force.
• 5.4 It is a matter of formations, communications
and signals.
 Effectiveness Of Military Forces
• 5.28 Order or disorder depends on organization
and structure.
• 5.29 Courage or cowardice depends on
postures and circumstances.
• 5.30 Strengths or weaknesses depend on the
formations and dispositions of the army.
 Effectiveness Of Military Forces
• 5.36 The person who knows how to exploit battle
situations and conditions is able to command his
troops in battle like rolling logs and boulders.
• 5.37 The characteristics of logs and boulders are
such that when they are on level ground, they
remain still; when they are on uneven and sloping
terrain, they move.
• 5.38 If they are square, they cease to move; if they
are round, they roll on.
Effectiveness Of Military Forces
Business Application
 Organizational Structure
• Detail duties and responsibilities To serve the
company goal,
• Increase productivity NOT the
individual
• Better services departmental
• Teamwork kingdom

• Empowerment
• Communication
Organizational Structure
 Harley-Davidson

Create Demand Produce Products

Circle: Circle:
Marketing and Engineering and
Sales Production

Support Circles:
Leadership and
HR, Finance,
Strategy Council:
Accounting,
Planning, Budgeting,
Purchasing, IT Human relations

• The overlapping of the circles emphasizes the interdependence between

areas and encourages participation and collaboration
 Direct And Indirect Forces
• 5.5 The whole army can withstand the attacks
of the enemy without suffering any defeats is
due to the use of the direct and indirect
strategies, forces, and approaches.
• 5.8 Use the direct force to engage the enemy,
and indirect force to win.
Direct Force: Structured Process/Regular operations
Indirect Force: Extraordinary actions/Creativity/Surprise
Direct & Indirect Forces - Creativity
In battle, there are only TWO methods of attack (direct
and indirect), yet these combination give rise to an
endless series of maneuvers. ~Sun Zi
5.12 There are FIVE basic musical notes, but their
combinations and permutations produce music
scores so varied that it is impossible to hears
the all.
5.13 There are only FIVE primary colours but their
mixes and matches produce so many visuals
that it is impossible to view all of them.
5.14 There are only FIVE basic flavours (sour, salt,
sweet, bitter, umami - savoriness) but their
blends and mixtures produce so many tastes
that it is impossible to savour all of them.
 Direct And Indirect Forces
• 5.15 In any battle situation and condition,
there are only the direct and indirect
approaches and forces.
• 5.16 However, the possible combinations,
changes and maneuvers between the direct
and the indirect (approaches and forces) are
limitless and beyond comprehension.
 Direct And Indirect Forces

Multiple Possibilities
Unlimited
Business Application
 Apply Extraordinary Force to Win
• Cyberspace is turning
storefront retailing into
the normal force and
Internet retailing into the
extraordinary.

• Direct selling –
extraordinary forces of
huge number of sales
representative.
 Momentum And Timing
• 5.19 When gushing torrential water tosses
stones and pushes boulders, its about the
force created by its momentum.
• 5.20 When the ferocious strike of eagle break
the body of its prey, it is because of the exact
moment and timing of its engagement.
Business Application
 Momentum And Timing
• Know exactly when to release his power so as
to cause the greatest damage.
• Know when to take action to ensure the
greatest outcome.
 Importance of Right Timing

• Economic crisis in 2008 provide the right

timing
– People cannot afford expensive rent or
accommodation fees during travel
– Owner need additional income
 Importance of Momentum
Example: Subway
• 80’s and 90’s - >10,000 stores in US
• First decade of 21st century – franchisee growth
• >25,000 stores worldwide
• Some countries have more outlets than McDonald’s.
Example: Toyota
• Recession economy of 2009
• Pioneering hybrid Prius – aggressive
• Other car companies: double-digit declines
Stress about the importance of flexibility,
adaptability and shaping on the deployment of
troops.
Sun Tzu explains the use of creativity of combining
timing in building your momentum can create such
an overpowering and precise force.

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