Sun Tzu's Rule Tool: Strategic Troubleshooting

Sun Tzu's strategy explains competition as comparisons of the objects that we call 'positions.' The science of strategy is the study of competitive positions. This study analyses positions individually and as groups. It dissects individual positions into pieces, but it also looks at how a group of positions interact in the competitive environment. Like molecules or atomic particles, positions have specific characteristics. Though each competitive positions is unique, we can analyze and compare positions. We can discuss how positions "work" because we can discuss their common characteristics. All positions are a unique combination of characteristics because no two positions can have the same place at the same time.  Like all molecules consist of elemental atoms, all positions consist of elements that we can instantly recognize and evaluate. Given their components, positions will interact with other positions in predictable ways. We can make decisions about the relative value and strength of various positions on the basis of these characteristics.