Manoeuvre warfare in business competition

Manoeuvre warfare is the staple of great military leaders like Alexander, Hannibal, Napoleon and Rommel. Today Spetsnaz Russian Special Forces has perfected this art to great operational excellence. Business firms are also resorting to manoeuvre warfare while facing business competition.

The concept behind manoeuvre warfare is to defeat an opponent by destroying his morale and the willingness to fight rather than bringing devastation over him. It is operationalised by using a series of military manoeuvres that finally add up to greater quantum thus leading to victory. 

It does not mean firepower is not used at all. In fact it is the judicious use of fire power that breaks opposition at a particular weak point creating an opening through which, flank or by pass manoeuvres are made feasible to take out command and control. This manoeuvre is said to inflict huge psychological damage to the opponent.

There are eight aspects of manoeuvre warfare as outlined by Major K P Anastas Armor in his monograph: 

1. Attack at moral and psychological level in the narrow strike zone of their formations where a weak link is observed.

2. Focused at operational level so that linkage is made to overall strategy

3. Oriented towards selected specific points for taking on the opponent’s forces

4. Deployment of own forces in depth wise manner such that heavy concentration of men & materials are used to crack open the target

5. Reserves at the rear is large to meet up with any eventuality following such foray

6. Adopt indirect approach bordering on secrecy, speed and surprise

7. There is no set battle field yet warfighting is carried out in fluid manner such that it can take place in virtual or actual space

8. Fire power assists, yet it is the manoeuvre that matters, finally. 

Firms in information and telecom technology are in better position to use business manoeuvre based on manoeuvre warfare. All the biggies including google and medium ones including Nokia are adept in using manoeuvre warfare to beat their competitors! 

 

Cheers!

 

Muthu Ashraff Rajulu

Business Strategist

Mobile: + 94 777 265677

E-mail:   cosmicgems@gmail.com

Blog:   Business Strategist