Seven considerations to forecast excellence or average

Therefore, in your deliberations, when seeking to determine the military conditions, let them be made the basis of a comparison, in this wise:--

(1) Which of the two sovereigns is imbued with the Moral law?
(2) Which of the two generals has most ability?
(3) With whom lie the advantages derived from Heaven and Earth?
(4) On which side is discipline most rigorously enforced?
(5) Which army is stronger?
(6) On which side are officers and men more highly trained?
(7) In which army is there the greater constancy both in reward and punishment?

By means of these seven considerations I can forecast victory or defeat.

From "Sun Tzu on the Art of War - The Oldest Military Treatise in the World"

Translated from the Chinese By Lionel Giles, M.A. (1910)

Discussion:

Here, Sun Tzu deals with benchmarking between two armies. Amazingly, those principles quite easily fit into the benchmarking between healthcare organisations with little modifications. It might be the trace of the fact that health organisations were in some extent modelled on military organisations.

Translation:

Therefore, in your deliberations, when seeking to determine the healthcare conditions, let them be made the basis of a comparison, in this wise:--

(1) Which of the two governors is compliant with the legislation?
(2) Which of the two general managers has most ability?
(3) With whom lie the advantages derived from Environment and Geography?
(4) On which side is discipline most rigorously enforced?
(5) Which organisation has a stronger framework?
(6) On which side are health officers and staff more highly trained?
(7) In which organisation is there the greater constancy both in reward and correction?

By means of these seven considerations I can forecast excellence or average.

Ray Murakami