The Art of IT

This was contributed by Michael Murphy; September, 2001.

While reading The Art of War, I found some interesting parallels in the chapter on "Force" and implementing a good IT framework within a company.

On dealing with multiple IT groups within a company:

``Sun-tzu said: Generally, commanding of many is like commanding of a few. It is a matter of dividing them into groups. Doing battle with a large army is like doing battle with a small army. It is a matter of communications through flags and pennants.''

My interpretation:
A proper hierarchical structure of groups makes a large company's IT framework as easy to command as a small company's single IT department. Communication is the key. (Sure, flags and pennants have character, but most modern companies use their intranet - the key is to pick a communication system simple enough to be a lowest common denominator that everyone can use.) Note that bidirectional communication is implied.

On dealing with multiple OS's, multiple hardware platforms, and other heterogenous and unusual network configurations:

``What enable an army to withstand the enemy's attack and not be defeated are uncommon and common maneuvers. The army will be like throwing a stone against an egg; it is a matter of weakness and strength. Generally, in battle, use the common to engage the enemy and the uncommon to gain victory. Those skilled at uncommon maneuvers are as endless as the heavens and earth, and as inexhaustible as the rivers and seas. Like the sun and the moon, they set and rise again. Like the four seasons, they pass and return again. There are no more than five musical notes, yet the variations in the five notes cannot all be heard. There are no more than five basic colors, yet the variations in the five colors cannot all be seen. There are no more than five basic flavors, yet the variations in the five flavors cannot all be tasted. In battle, there are no more than two types of attacks: Uncommon and common, yet the variations of the uncommon and common cannot all be comprehended. The uncommon and the common produce each other, like an endless circle. Who can comprehend them?''

My interpretation:
The common is standard business practice, but the uncommon is necessary for victory. It is impossible to predict what uncommonness will be required in advance. Those who are skilled at the uncommon are godlike, and their resources seemingly infinite - so, do not fail to draw upon them, and under no circumstances should you take their ability to do the uncommon away from them.

The Art of War can be very enlightening in many aspects of life. The full translation is available at http://www.sonshi.com.