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How to Use theArt of War:Sun Tzu Strategy Card
Deckfor Military Planning
Robert Cantrell
Center For Advantage
(703) 379-9429
http://www.centerforadvantage.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.centerforadvantage.com/ -
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Contents
Innovation Planner Description Art of War: Sun Tzu Strategy Card Deck Description Basic Military Planning
1. Identify the Problem
2. Create a Cause and Effects Net
3. Initial Problem Solving Effort4. Expanding the Solution
Center of Gravity Decision Cycle Games
Additional Resources
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Art of War: Sun TzuStrategy Card Deck
DescriptionThe Art of War: Sun Tzu Strategy
Card Deck DescriptionCard Types
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The Art of War: Sun TzuStrategy Card DeckDescription TheArt of War: Sun Tzu
Strategy Card Deckis a
54 card set of competitive
strategies that helps
users make betterdecisions faster by
considering all aspects of
their power to succeed
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The Art of War: Sun TzuStrategy Card Deck
Description It is based on Sun TzuArtof Warand is derived from
the analysis of strategic
masterminds to include Sun
Tzu, Lao Tzu, Musashi,Boyd, Kasporov, Lawrence,
the unknown author of the
classic Chinese strategies,
and the concepts behindthe classic strategy games
of Chess, Go, and Poker.
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Art of War: Sun Tzu StrategyCard Deck - Applicability to
the Military The Art of War: SunTzu Strategy Card
Deck is militarily useful
for: Strategy education Threat analysis
Military planning key
topic of this brief
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Card Types
There are 4 card themes in theArt of War: Sun TzuStrategy Card Deck Elimination All spades involve eliminating something. That
something may be an adversary, an option, an objective, time,etc. You remove something from the contest.
Isolation All diamonds involve isolating something. This
something may be an adversary, an option, an objective, time,etc. You separate something from something else. Preparation of the Field of Contest All clubs involve
shaping the field of contest. You create the conditions, such asconfusion on the part of your adversary, that better allow you towin.
Preparation of Self All hearts involve shaping yourself. Youset your disposition to that best suited to reach your goal andpresent your adversary with appearances that cause him to actagainst his best interests.
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Underlying Principle
EIIN Eliminate Isolate Integrate Negate
At the core of all competitivestrategy, you are trying todo at least one of theseEIIN to your competitor
To win any conflict, you
have to be able to do atleast one of these EIIN toyour adversary
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Basic MilitaryPlanning
Basic Planning Steps
Steps 1 to 4
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Incorporate All Aspects ofPower The Art of War cards provides a comprehensive tool
to assess, decide, and act on objectives with all
physical, psychological, and moral aspects of
military, economic, political, and social power It is designed to supplement current planning
methods by increasing the menu of possibilities
considered for military operations
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Incorporate All Aspects ofPower It also serves to make the
powerful ideas behind
Effects Based
Operations (EBO)
tangible and useful evento those without much
training in EBO
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Basic Military Planning
Basic Military Planning
involves the Art of War
cards and any other
planning tools youmight be using
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Basic MilitaryPlanning
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Step 1: Identify theProblem
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Step 1: Identify theProblem Military planning takes place to resolve problems
typically caused by an opponents actions and
desires that go against our best interests
Ask and answer:1. What is the problem you wish to resolve?
2. What is the cause of the problem?
3. What is the effect of the problem?
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Step 1: Identify theProblem For example, consider
a problem involving
unrest and insurrection
YieldsCause Effect
Unrest Insurrection
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Step 1: Identify theProblem The problem to you is not necessarily the
insurrection itself, but the changes that insurrection
will create*
The first level cause is the unrest The first level effect of the unrest is the insurrection
*This is an important distinction in planning because
the best plans focus on the central problem, and youcan only focus on the central problem if you really
understand what it is
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Step 1: Identify theProblem The problem is a point of view and describes how a
cause or effect impacts you (the people leading the
insurrection might be delighted by the change)
The cause and the effect, however, are objective
facts i.e. in the absence of intervention, unrest may
or may not create an insurrection irrespective of your
point of view on the matter
Your goal is to change some aspect of the cause, the
causes of the cause, the effect, or the impact of the
effect so that you no longer have the central problem
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Step 1: Identify theProblem Sometime knowing the problem, its cause, and its
effect provides enough information to resolve the
problem. If so, skip to step 3 of Basic Military
Planning
Sometime knowing the problem, cause, and effect is
not enough to solve the problem. If so, go to step 2
of Basic Military Planning
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Step 2: Create aCause and EffectsChain or Net
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Step 2: Create a Causeand Effects Chain or Net A basic problem has a cause and an effect
However this cause and effect does not take place
in isolation
YieldsCause Effect
Unrest Insurrection
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Step 2: Create a Causeand Effects Chain or Net Another cause yielded your cause and your effect
will act as a cause for another effect
YieldsCause Effect
Unrest Insurrection
YieldsCause Effect
Deprivation Unrest
Yields
Cause Effect
ConflictInsurrection
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Step 2: Create a Causeand Effects Chain or Net Identify Root Causes Think of your original cause
as an effect and describe its preceding cause
Identify Ripple Effects Think of your original effect
as a cause for another effect and describe that nexteffect
Repeat backwards and forwards from the original
problem as many times and with as many branches
as makes sense
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Step 2: Create a Causeand Effects Chain or Net A cause and effects net develops that is limitless in
depth
YieldsCause Effect
Unrest Insurrection
Root Causes Ripple Effects
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Step 2: Create a Causeand Effects Chain or Net Your goal is to create your desired result as
effectively and efficiently as possible anywhere
along the cause and effects net that you can
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Step 2: Create a Causeand Effects Chain or Net For example If your goal is to keep unrest from
causing undesired change, you could: Remove instigators in advance Remove the regime in advance Provide alternatives to depravity Destroy the insurrection outright Contain the fighting Increase your presence to raise the stakes Decrease your presence to lower your risk Embrace whoever wins etc
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Step 2: Create a Causeand Effects Chain or Net Going through the cards helps
you to assemble such lists ofpossibilities: Remove instigators in advance Remove the regime in advance
Provide alternatives todepravity Destroy the insurrection
outright Contain the fighting Increase your presence to
raise the stakes Decrease your presence to
lower your risk Embrace whoever wins etc
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Step 2: Create a Causeand Effects Chain or Net The more extensive your cause and effects net, and
the earlier you deal with the problem, the more
options you have to resolve that problem
Ideally you will resolve the problem without directmilitary conflict
If military conflict is necessary, you seek to resolve
the problem in the fastest, most effective, and most
efficient way possible
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Step 3: InitialProblem Solving
Effort
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Step 3: Initial ProblemSolving Effort In step 3, you start using the Art of War cards to
help you resolve the problem
Each card has bullet points that serve a specific
function
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Step 3: Initial ProblemSolving Effort Browse the Art of War
cards for ideas to
change the cause or
the effect
If you have set up a
cause and effects chain
or net in step 2,
consider any of thecauses or effects in the
system
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Step 3: Initial ProblemSolving Effort Consider each card:
Is it useful?
Can you use it?
How might you use it?
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Step 3: Initial ProblemSolving Effort Sometimes the strategy and
basis provide enoughinformation to solve theproblem. If so, record yoursolution and put it into the
plan Sometimes the strategy and
basis do not provide enoughinformation to solve theproblem. If so, go to step 4
If the strategy is not useful,choose another card
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Step 4: Expandingthe Solution
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Step 4: Expanding theSolution Expanding the solution involves developing the
strategy or strategies chosen to resolve a problem
into the concept of a plan Situation
Mission
Intent
Execution
Service & Support
Communication
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Step 4: Expanding theSolution For example, lets suppose
that two neighboring
factions have postured to
fight and threaten,
therefore, to cut off a supplyof a needed resource
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Step 4: Expanding theSolution The problem is economic harm to you that will
come from the disruption of the needed resource
flows
The cause of the problem is a rival system of beliefsthat two opposing sides wish to impose over the
region containing the resource
The effect is a disruption of flows of the needed
resource that comes from the region
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Step 4: Expanding theSolution If Change the Scope of the
Engagement appears
useful for dealing with the
unrest or insurrection, you
might ask how you willimplement Change the
Scope of the Engagement
You may already have an
idea, or you can seek out
another or additional ideason other cards
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Step 4: Expanding theSolution You might decide to
Change the Scope of
the Engagement by
choosing to take sides,
at least initially
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Step 4: Expanding theSolution You might decide that
aiding the victim of one
adversary would allow
you to eliminate the
other adversary outright
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Step 4: Expanding theSolution Or in fact, it might help
you eliminate both
adversaries, since you
can deal with the other
after you have dealt
with the one.
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Step 4: Expanding theSolution This being the plan
behind the plan the
adversary you aided
does not see or cannot
do much about
Your planning does not
stop here
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Step 4: Expanding theSolution The deck allow you do go to any level of detail you
intend to go
You write each decided strategy into your plan
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Step 4: Expanding theSolution Keep in mind that the strategy on any given card
may serve as the answer to any other given card
The details of how to use a strategy require your
expertise in your particular domain, and a solidunderstanding of other domains
Change the Scope of the Engagement may mean
something different to a military officer versus an
intelligence officer or political appointee, eventhough the underlying principle is the same
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Center of Gravity
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CenterofGravity
The Center of Gravity
card prompts you to
consider all physical
and behavioral aspects
of a system in order to
achieve the desired
effect (resolved
problem) with the
minimal use ofresources
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Center of Gravity
The ideal military centerof gravity shuts downan opposing force witha minimal expenditure
of your own energy The target might
include a key individual,such as an inspirational
leader; it might includea key structure, such asa bridge or powersource
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Center of Gravity All systems have elements and processes that turn
input into output
Input Output
System
Energy Source
Transmission
Instrument of Work
Instrument of Control
Subsystem
Super system
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Center of Gravity Your goal is to find the most effective and efficient
place in a system to effect a desired change
Input Output
System
Energy Source
Transmission
Instrument of Work
Instrument of Control
Subsystem
Super system
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Center of Gravity For example, all enemy forces need to communicate
with each other and seek to improve that element of
control
Input Output
System
Energy Source
Transmission
Instrument of Work
Instrument of Control
Subsystem
Super system
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Center of Gravity A likely Center of Gravity is to turn this idea against
your enemy and make it difficult for him to
communicate
Input Output
System
Energy Source
Transmission
Instrument of Work
Instrument of Control
Subsystem
Super system
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Center of Gravity Which you might accomplish by allowing your
enemy no sanctuary. How do you do that?
Input Output
System
Energy Source
Transmission
Instrument of Work
Instrument of Control
Subsystem
Super system
f i
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Center of Gravity Perhaps through a mix of real acts and deception
that gives your force a larger psychological
presence than physical presence.
Input Output
System
Energy Source
Transmission
Instrument of Work
Instrument of Control
Subsystem
Super system
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C f G i
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Center of Gravity In a cause and effects net, you look for where you
can effect the most change with the least effort as aprime location for a solution
You also look for areas where an adversary cannot
make easy adjustments
YieldsCause Effect
Fire Boiling Water
Root Causes Ripple Effects
C t f G it
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Center of Gravity
The is an underlying
idea behind striking
with a borrowed hand
used successfully to
defeat the Taliban in
Afghanistan
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C t f G it
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Center of Gravity
Bottom line: Use the Center of Gravity card to
consider all aspects of where to best position a
solution for attack or defense
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Decision Cycle
D i i C l
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Decision Cycle
Winning on the battlefield involves resolving your
problems and directly or indirectly causing problems
for your enemy
For example, a plan that gives you control of a key
bridge creates a problem for an enemy that no
longer has that bridge
D i i C l
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Decision Cycle
Your objective is to win therace of decision cycles
whereby your plan can not
only work, but work despite
active opposition to your
success
You accomplish this by
creating situations that your
adversary cannot deal with
at your pace, which has thebyproduct of causing him to
make exploitable mistakes
D i i C l
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Decision Cycle
The intent behind the Art of War
cards is to accelerate transitions
in thought
You make better decisions
faster because you: Do not have to reinvent strategies
that are already known before you
use them
Are not limited, in a crisis, to
selecting only those strategies at
the top of your mind
D i i C l
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Decision Cycle
Bottom Line: You will have opposition when your
solutions create a problem for someone else
For Military Planning, you want to create rapid
transitions that keep an enemy off balance
What appears to be the best decision is
generally not your best decision if your enemy
can anticipate it
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Games
Art of War Cards Games
Description Strateffects
Strategy Sparring
Games Description Art of
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Games Description Art ofWar Cards Strateffects provides a game for seeking
problems along a cause and effects net
Other games act like sparring for the mind and
improve strategic mental agility
Strateffects A game for the
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StrateffectsA game for theworld as it is1. Select a strategic problem to solve.2. Describe what the problem is and what the problem means.
3. Build a cause and effects chain forward and backward from theproblem. For example, if the problem is I do not have outsidesupport, meaning I will have to proceed on my own, you mightgo forward with I will have to proceed on my own, meaning I willhave to succeed with the resources I have, and then I will haveto succeed with the resources I have, meaning I will have onlyone chance to reach my objective. You might go backward withI have moved beyond the capacity of my support to reach me,meaning I do not have outside support, and before that, myobjective is remote, meaning I have to move beyond the capacity
of my support to reach me. Go forward and backward at leasttwo steps from the central problem; branches are acceptable.(Within reason, the broader your cause and effects chain or net,the better your potential result.)
Strateffects A game for the
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StrateffectsA game for theworld as it is4. Deal at least five Strategy cards from the Art of War: Sun Tzu
Strategy Card Deck to each player.
5. Allow each player, on successive turns, to apply a Strategy cardanywhere along the cause and effects chain to includesupporting previously played cards in a way that supports theresolution of the original strategic problem. For the example in
#2 above, the card 10 of Diamonds, FEINT IN THE EAST, ACTIN THE WEST, evokes the possibility that you might draw anadversary away from your objective thereby eliminating yourneed for support at the objective. Queen of Hearts, CREATESOMETHING FROM NOTHING, evokes the possibility you mightcause your adversary to believe you have support even though
you do not. You might further develop the Queen of Hearts byplaying the 3 of Clubs, SOW A DISCORD, that evokes thepossibility you might allow your adversaries to discover secretsthat are actually false the secret in this example being that yoursupport has greater reach than it does.
Strateffects A game for the
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Strateffects A game for theworld as it is6. Draw cards to replace those used.
7. Play until you have a plan, succeed at a plan, or until cards run
out.
8. For real world problems, play is continuous as the situation
changes.9. You win as a team by solving the strategic problem, though a
moderator or group consensus can award the designation of
winner for training games.
Strategy Sparing
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Strategy Sparing
Strategy Sparring is a game developed with Foreign Servicesofficers. Just like physical martial arts sparing, there is no winner persay in this game. The goal is to improve the thinking skills under fire ofboth participants. You use the cards from theArt of War: Sun TzuStrategy CardDeck to exercise your mind and develop real-timestrategic agility on your feet.
Shuffle theArt of War: Sun Tzu Strategy Card Deck, and draw fivecards each. Decide who goes first. Draw another card from the deckand place the card face up on the table. In less than 10 seconds, havethe first player select a counterstrategy from his card deck, place thatcard face up on the table, and draw a replacement card from the deck.In less than 10 seconds, have the second player select a counterstrategy to the first players card, place that card face up on the table,and draw a replacement card from the deck. Continue this sparingcycle until you go through the entire deck. (If you have a chess clock ortwo stop watches, you can use them to keep up the pace and make thesparing more competitive.)
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AdditionalResources
This concludes How to Use the Art of War: Sun TzuStrategy Card Deck for Military Planning
Additional resources appear at
www.centerforadvantage.comwww.artofwarcards.com
Also by Robert Cantrell
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Also by Robert Cantrell
Heartland Reviews
As a retired military intelligence professionaland conflict theorist, I must say this is thebest interpretation of Sun Tzus classicwork I have read. The author focuses onthe meanings behind this ancientChinese war philosophers writings. He
puts them into a modern context, makingthem easy to understand. Apparently theDepartment of Defense agrees with meon this, since they have selected Mr.Cantrells book as a text for the NationalWar College in Washington DC. This is amust read for all military officers andbusiness leaders. It rated a perfect fivehearts.
Bob Spear
Chief Reviewer for Heartland Reviews,Leavenworth, KS