WAR IS MY BUSINESS
WAR IS MY BUSINESS
It is through the study of humanity, our propensity for conflict, and how it has impacted our development, that we understand how humans conduct themselves. While individuals may be different, relatively speaking, humans as a group function very similarly throughout cultures. We have evolved from common ancestors, and share the compulsions that allowed them to survive. As a result, many of those compulsions can rear up in human endeavors even as societies become larger and more dynamic. Warfare, business, sports, romance, and entertainment are endeavors that all have one common denominator - they are conceived and executed by human beings. While the contrasts between activities, such as war and business, might be so apparent that one would question what they could have in common, I would argue that they have much more in common than they do not. And it here that I discuss these commonalities and differences while specifically focusing on the relationship between the endeavors of war and business.
The Study
What are the causes of human violence?
In this discussion, we will see that violence - in general - is only a tool. That violence exists as a result of human behavior. Understanding this will allow us to see how a person can come to harm other people, and therefore why we continue to see conflict as an important aspect - though undesired - of our species.
What compels human action while under stress?
In this chapter, we see that the underlying neurological functions of the brain compel certain actions when faced with stress - especially the duress of combat. Lessons learned about how an individual and group act when under such pressure have commonalities in the business world - such as in sales.
How to make a human more effective?
In this chapter, we see that training and conditioning are used to improve the performance of a human being, as well as a group of humans, to accomplish tasks in support of their organization. Training for battle has many principles that can apply to a business setting, and here we discuss them.
Where does warfare find its value to society?
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The structure of the purpose of war and business is fundamentally the same: Humans convince other humans and shape their environments for their benefit. This is one of the reasons why we can apply military theory to business development. The fundamental elements of war and business are not found within military theory and business theory, but within human nature. We, as humans, conduct war and business based on our perceptions of the environment.
How does leadership shape performance?
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We understand that, as a species, if we want to accomplish great works and large projects in a timely and effective manner, then we may need to leverage the effort of other people. In the environment of human conflict, in the most simplistic terms, if we want to defeat a threat; be they an individual or group, then we increase our chances of success and reduce our own risks by garnering the support of more people.
How can society justify the use of violence?
Military ethics, such as the Army Values and the concept of Just War Theory, can be insightful for shaping business ethics. These frameworks emphasize the alignment of behavior with key principles and the beneficial behaviors, attributes that are equally valuable in business settings. While military ethics prioritize values, such as duty and loyalty, essential for making critical decisions in business, these principles help ensure that corporate actions are consistent with legal standards, social norms, and organizational goals.