Ending Grey Zone Operations in business warfare

When straight forward hostilities cannot be mounted countries undertake grey zone operations as part of their military campaigns. In business warfare major companies resort to grey zone operations so that above the surface everything is calm and quiet while beneath we find plethora of hostile activities continuing unabated. 

Simply speaking grey zone ops are not black and white affairs. Many things are of undercover nature. The Cola war between and amongst beverages firms is an apt example. There are three scenarios arising out of grey operations not leading to the intended result.

First scenario is where this type of operations cannot continue forever as endless campaigns make both antagonist and protagonist tire out and either one or both throw the towel into the ring. Both parties quit is often resorted to where the end-goal becomes a chimera. Taking stalemate into its logical conclusion, parties make either jointly or individually public announcement that they have reconciled with each other. For both parties this is by far the best alternative to negotiated agreement (BATNA).

Second scenario emerges in some cases where one party, generally the weaker side, consider other means of fighting business warfare such as bringing geoeconomics disruptions over enemy quarters. A good illustration is knocking off the enemy supply line at critical juncture so that opponent is put out of the way for the time being. The downside is, a strong opponent wold have already smelt out this trick and might have made secretive arrangements to procure materials from elsewhere so manufacturing continues as usual. 

The third scenario is the saner one where both parties realise that fighting out from the shadows is both enervating and time consuming. Furthermore, realizing the hard fact that continuation of grey zone operations make both of them damned together, they prefer coming to the table for a peaceful settlement that dovetails the following three vectors: 

a) Grey zone ops make both of them guilty in the eyes of the world which put them in tight spot as regards to their reputation in the market place which must be avoided by both for their future progress 

b) There is an element of synergy when two strong parties facing each other in grey zone ops, get together and develop a new technology for mutual benefit. Apple and Microsoft did this exactly that way 

c) Join hands and conduct the same grey zone ops against a third party rival who if not stopped at the gates could possibly take over both of them in time to come. Nokia was beaten by Samsung with few others joining hands in this manner!

 

Cheers!

 

Muthu Ashraff Rajulu

Business Strategist

Mobile: + 94 777 265677

E-mail:   cosmicgems@gmail.com

Blog:   Business Strategist