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Readers debate whether Sun-Tzu is on-target or way-off for managers looking for office strategies

 

You Say You Don't Want a Revolution?

It's quite ridiculous to learn business strategy from a book on housekeeping instead of Sun Tzu's ancient classic, The Art of War, as Hillary Johnson suggests ["The Next Management Revolution," July]. The author leaves readers with the impression that Sun Tzu's principles are out-of-date, and that's simply not true. Unlike most of today's fad-driven writing on business, Sun Tzu's ideas on strategy are timeless and actually work -- on the battlefield or in the marketplace.

Sun Tzu's principles show business leaders how to capture their markets without destroying them, attack competitors' weaknesses, and use alliances to gain competitive advantage.

Mark McNeilly
Author of Sun Tzu and the Art of Business: Six Strategic Principles for Managers
Cary, N.C.

Hillary Johnson did a great job relating household management to office management. Until firms learn more about the art of housekeeping and treat the office "more like a kitchen and less like a war room," talented and dedicated female managers will keep choosing to leave their jobs and do things their own way. Also, using "women's ways" within a company will likely help businesses better serve female customers, generating more sales and increased loyalty.

Andrea Learned
Author of Don't Think Pink: What Really Makes Women Buy
Burlington, Vt.

An NDA Won't Cut It

Inc.'s advice to get a nondisclosure agreement before presenting an idea to a large corporation [Ask Inc., July] may be of limited use. If an idea is related to the corporation's focus, chances are good that the company's already looking into some facets of it. Wave an NDA around, and the corporation will quickly show you the exit.

Patents can be helpful, but they don't necessarily stop others from using your idea. They mainly prevent other companies from barring your right to use it. Instead, I'd recommend talking with a licensing agent who can capitalize quickly on the idea before someone else runs with it, especially if it is not protected by a constrainable patent.

Anthony Ravenscroft
Acquisitions and Development
Crossquarter Publishing Group
Santa Fe, N.Mex.

You Give Business a Good Name

As a teenager in the '80s, I was a fan of Jon Bon Jovi's music. Today, as a 37-year-old businesswoman, I have another reason to admire him. Adam Hanft's interview with Bon Jovi ["Soul Proprietor," July] reinforced what it takes to succeed in business: Keep it simple, care for your team, and do what's right -- even when it's not what's popular. In the wake of corporate America's public fall, it turns out that Bon Jovi represents the best qualities of American business.

Kathryn Esper
President
Kathryn Esper Consulting
Boston

Correction

The Porsche shown on page 62 of the July issue (Things I Can't Live Without) was not the Carrera GT Convertible. It was a 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet ($93,200).