Can Eastern Wisdom Solve Western Problems? A Book Review on Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War”

This paper explores how Eastern philosophical wisdom, specifically Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, can be applied to address modern Western organizational challenges. By drawing parallels between Sun Tzu’s military strategies and Bolman and Deal’s (2008) organizational theory—particularly the structural, political, and human resource frames—the review highlights how strategic evaluation, environmental awareness, and adaptive leadership can drive success in contemporary institutions. It critically examines Sun Tzu’s authoritative leadership style and its limitations, while emphasizing the continued relevance of strategic thinking, stakeholder analysis, and resource management in complex organizations such as higher education. The analysis suggests that while some of Sun Tzu’s tactics must be modernized, the core principles of foresight and adaptability remain vital to organizational effectiveness.