Strategy of weaponizing time

Time is a crucial element in business warfare. A firm can play a long game or short game depending on the frame that it sets upon its business strategy. Short game parameters are different from the long term ones. Here are few of my thoughts:

In law, “time is of the essence” means that the parties are bound to perform contracts in timely manner. However in business warfare, “time is of the essence” is entirely a different creature. It speaks of duration and choices that are made by a firm while persecuting operations in a market.

Time is on the side of the winner who distinguishes acceleration and deceleration of hostilities in a given period of time. There again a firm has to choose from either a short time operation or the one that goes much longer. Whatever the option chosen by a firm it should bear in mind that time always moves forward and not backwards. Once you miss a moment there is not going to be another one over the horizon.

Short duration business warfare succeeds if all four conditions are fulfilled, namely precise timing, speed, secrecy and effective manoeuvres. If one of the conditions is missing then the effort would be easily foiled. It is similar to the absence of vital condiment while making a soup rendering it to be spoiled at the end.

Long war requires using the time as weapon. We call it as weaponization of time. Historically Russia is well known for long lasting warfare. In today’s context firms could easily undertake weaponization of time in business warfare. This requires attrition that depletes the resources of the opponents and tire him till such time the opponent either retreats or folds up.

Weaponization of time is a business strategy that goes well in exploration, mining, manufacture and sale of minerals such as diamonds and rear earths. For example, diamond company De Beers in South Africa and its Russian counterpart Alrosa are engaged in weaponization of time in a big way and with much success too!

 

Cheers!

 

Muthu Ashraff Rajulu

Business Strategist

Mobile: + 94 777 265677

E-mail: cosmicgems@gmail.com

Blog:   Business Strategist