Step 5: 1. Early Situations

3. Responses and Execution > 2. Situation Response >2. Identify Situation > 1. Early Situations

Which of the following best describes your competitive situation?

1. I need to move because a much more powerful party is threatening to take my position from me.
   6.4.1 Dissipating Situations

   6.4.1 Dissipating Situations

   "Warring parties must sometimes fight inside their own territory.
   This is scattering terrain."
   Sun Tzu's The Art of War 11:1:11-12

   Situation: 

   A competitor or rival is mounting a large, well-organized attack on our existing position. Given its size and power, this invasion is very likely to be successful. At the very least, the confrontation with this opponent will be difficult and expensive. We are forced to defend our existing position within our own territories. The main problem here is not the rival, but the internal division that the threat causes.

2. I just began my move and am finding progress much easier than expected .
   6.4.2 Easy Situations

   6.4.2 Easy Situations

   "When you enter hostile territory, your penetration is shallow.
   This is easy terrain."
   Sun Tzu's The Art of War 11:1:13-14

   Situation: 

   The "easy situation" arises when we first begin a move or a campaign and have a minimal commitment to it. It defines a situation where we can seemingly make progress easily. As a result, we form our expectations regarding the future of the move. The problem is both our lack of commitment and a set expectations based on minimal experience. Without making a commitment, it is easy to get distracted. Our set of expectations are almost certainly wrong.
3. I just began my move and found the opportunity is very good but more competitive than I thought.
   6.4.3 Contentious Situations

   6.4.3 Contentious Situations

   "Some terrain gives you an advantageous position.
   But it gives others an advantageous position as well.
   This will be disputed terrain."
   Sun Tzu's The Art of War 11:1:15-17

   Situation: 

   The contentious situation arises when we discover that an opportunity is very rewarding, but others discover it as well. Because of an opportunity's obvious potential, it attracts competitors. The opportunity initially looks like an opening, but because others react to it as we have, the opening is not closed but it is contested. While no one has yet established a position taking advantage of the opening, there are a number of competitors vying to do so.