Analysis Across Examples

Common to the four examples raised in this chapter is the allocation of complementary resources in such a way that, no matter where the opponent turns, the practitioner of maneuver warfare has an answer. Less readily apparent is what it takes to make this principle of maneuver warfare work: combined arms is an inherently complex undertaking that requires the utmost trust and coordination throughout an organization.

In the face of a charging French cavalry at Agincourt, Henry s infantrymen had to trust the archers aim; likewise, the archers had to trust the infantrymen s resolve. Lexus management in Japan had to trust the guidance it received from its representatives and partners across the Pacific in the United States, and engineers and manufacturing specialists at the Lexus plant had to trust one another s competence as the leadership of Flagship Quality groups changed hands. On multiple occasions Marines in 5/11 had to trust the accuracy and timeliness of the bombs dropped by their brethren in the air. And NetJets service teams , operations personnel, pilots, and maintenance crews all depend implicitly on one another to deliver a comprehensive, world-class service offering where the slightest disconnect can be deemed unacceptable by an unforgiving customer.

For the English at Agincourt and Lexus, coordination of the combined arms effort was centralized ”in the leader himself. Henry V orchestrated the actions of his archers and infantry, and Ichiro Suzuki orchestrated all design, manufacturing, marketing, and sales activities. In contrast, the coordination of the combined arms effort for Marines and NetJets is decentralized, and technology serves as the unifying factor. IntelliJet, the backbone of NetJets combined arms offering, allows previously independent-functioning groups to work in harmony. And the Marines ”as you will see below ”rely heavily on standardized operating procedures and multiple communications means to coordinate attacks between geographically diverse, fast-moving, and highly lethal units.