STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT REVIEW

5 February 2008
Phnom Penh City
Cambodia

THE PRINCE
by Nicolo Machiavelli

A Book Review
 by Derfus

Watching the morning TFC News and how Joe De Venecia was thrown out of power, I was reminded of this small powerful pocketbook, 1 cm thick, 6x4 inches, 26 chapters in 127 pages. JDV might have forgotten the Marcos era and the dark history of his Machiavellian leadership.

Machiavellian principle is simply INSTILL FEAR AMONG PEOPLE.ONCE PEOPLE FEAR YOU, YOU CAN CONTROL THE STATE. BUT PEOPLE MUST LOVE YOU, THEY MUST NOT HATE YOU.. OR ELSE YOU WILL LOSE CONTROL. PEOPLE WILL REVOLT AGAINST YOU.

Machiavelli attempted to describe organizations as they exist within all human cultures.Based on these observations Machiavelli identified the kinds of actions that leaders must do in order to successfully insure the survival of their organizations. [Obviously,JDV has not been able to read what actions GMA is taking to insure her own survival.]

Machiavelli, in his book, has in mind a virtue-based theory, which he frequently refers to the traditional standards of praiseworthy human excellence or virtues, and their blameworthy negative counterparts or vices. Example: generous vs. rapacious; compassion vs cruelty; bold vs coardly; chaste vs lascivious; and sincere vs cunning behavior.

Machiavelli observed that all human beings, at all times and in all places, are naturally self-interested or simply selfish; that is to say that we primarily seek to realize our own personal interests, goals or purposes; and that we have to pursue our interests with varying degree of rationality. [here, JDV again forgot that there are no permanent friends in politics, only permanent interest.]

Bottom line summary

Every "Prince" should work towards being considered merciful and not cruel, but do not be totally against being cruel. Lack of cruelty will lead to disorder, chaos, murders and robberies. it means that every leader should be merciful at the same time be strict in implementing policies so that it will not cause any disorder, inefficiency and ineffectiveness in the organization. a "Prince" must know and understand when to act like a man ( sorry like woman pala) and like a beast, as circumstances require both - just one is not enough. to be any leder, it requires to have both a soft and a strong heart; an open hand and an iron fist in order for the organization to survive and be successful.

[Ngayon, masisisi ba natin si GMA?-- well, one thing i am sure, there is a saying that history repeats itself. Wag naman sanang people revolution na naman. di na napapanahon sa mga Pinoy!!] 

  

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