Chapter 1: Maneuver Warfare

Overview

Battles are won by slaughter and maneuver; the greater the general, the more he contributes in maneuver.

”Winston Churchill ^[1]

Reality is chaotic ; events in business never proceed exactly as planned. Environmental factors such as unforeseeable contingencies, fleeting opportunities, rapid and disruptive change, and market-altering technological innovations all contribute to a natural tendency toward disorder that frustrates business leaders and military leaders alike. Opponents actions, designed to alter or even destroy order, limit the successful implementation of well-laid plans.

A heightened threat of global terrorism and the recent slew of corporate scandals have only aggravated this tendency toward disorder. The events of September 11, 2001, have altered our personal and professional sense of safety, security, and certainty ”perhaps for many years to come. And the blatant lapses in integrity by executives at companies such as Enron, HealthSouth, Tyco, and WorldCom have eroded investors faith in corporate America and underscored the need for trust and integrity in the character of our business leaders.

Business leaders thus need a novel approach that takes these realities into account and even enables organizations to thrive in their midst. Such an approach exists, but outside the business world ”on the battlefield. Maneuver warfare aims to outflank the enemy through a sequence of rapid, focused, and unpredictable moves that target his weaknesses and render him unable to analyze or respond effectively. Equally compelling should be the emphasis that maneuver warfare places on trust , integrity , initiative , and unselfishness , four intangibles that we could use a little more of in today s business environment. Finally, the approach that we are advocating is a prescription that recognizes the ethical implications of actions taken. In business, as in war, the line between fighting smart and fighting dirty should never be crossed.

^[1] United States Marine Corps, Warfighting , MCDP 1, 21.