Step 4: 1. Strategic Information

1. Positions and Opportunities > 2. Gaining Perspective > 1. Strategic Information

Which of the following best describes your problems with strategic information?

1. I need to understand the limitations of strategic information.
   2.1 Information Value

   2.1 Information Value

   "The military commander's knowledge is the key.
   It determines if the civilian officials can govern.
   It determines if the nation's households are peaceful or a danger to the state." Sun Tzu's The Art of War 2:5:-3-5

   Situation: 

   Our perception of reality is less than perfect. Our senses capture reality in an incomplete form. Our thoughts only partly comprehend what we sense. We must interpret what we see and hear. We organize that information based on very imperfect models of how the world really works. In a sense, we do not live in reality. We live in our limited perceptions and models of reality. Mistaking our perception for reality can be extremely dangerous. Since we all live within these limitations, information that goes outside of common perception and models is extremely valuable.
   

2. I need to understand the common problems in gathering information.
   2.2 Information Gathering

   2.2 Information Gathering

   "...bureaucrats worship the value of their salary money too dearly.
   They remain ignorant of the enemy's condition.
   The result is cruel."
   Sun Tzu's The Art of War 13:1:12-14

   Situation: 

   Sun Tzu puts the value of information higher than that of money. In most forms of competition, our definition of "winning" is far from obvious. It depends on what we consider valuable. Mistakes are even made confusing the most universal measures: money, time, and information. Our gathering of information starts with developing a broader perspective about what knowledge is the key to our success. The information that we gather shapes our very understanding of success. A limited perspective loses sight of both the broad possibilities and strict limitations of what is possible. When we do not see the possibilities, we miss finding a way to advance our position in unexpected ways. When we do not see the limitations, we make costly mistakes.