Is Strategy an Art or a Science
Keywords:
Strategy, Art, ScienceAbstract
It is inevitable to state that the strategy is a combination of art and science nowadays. Artistic aspects of strategy mean something subjective that is created by the creative imagination of the person, while the scientific aspects of strategy mean something empirical that is objectively true. In ancient times, the word “strategy” was specifically related in antiquity to the profession of commanders to develop combat plans against opposing forces, which appears to be more like what we now call as “tactics”. Success and victory in battles were proofs that showed the prowess and ability of commanders to lead their subordinates to conquer their enemies. Strategy, as pure art was traditionally seen in the fifth century until the First World War, as the skill and expertise of the commanders who created battle strategies, which became the critical determinant of success in war. In this sense, a skilful strategist was seen as someone with an accumulation of combat experiences, who is capable of demonstrating a successful combination of instincts and tactics in a crisis. However, the view of strategy as science has gained momentum as emerging innovations and technologies were deemed essential to the success of military operations since the First World War. Despite this acceptance of science as an aspect of strategy, some scholars argue that art continues to be a crucial aspect of strategy due to the unforeseeable challenges of globalisation. Whether the strategy is an art or a science remains an open issue, it is evident that it may be something of both.
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