While we keep away from such gaffes, we should get the customer to disclose those sufferings

Country in which there are precipitous cliffs with torrents running between, deep natural hollows, confined places, tangled thickets, quagmires and crevasses, should be left with all possible speed and not approached.

While we keep away from such places, we should get the enemy to approach them; while we face them, we should let the enemy have them on his rear.

If in the neighborhood of your camp there should be any hilly country, ponds surrounded by aquatic grass, hollow basins filled with reeds, or woods with thick undergrowth, they must be carefully routed out and searched; for these are places where men in ambush or insidious spies are likely to be lurking.

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:

The translation of this part is reflecting that Sun Tzu did not insist on destroying the enemy but learning about them and possibly convert them to be allies. Thus descriptions about the enemy can be converted into those of the customers.

Translation:

Country in which there are precipitous societal gaps with divides running between, deep historical sorrows, confined views, tangled interests, deprivations and conflicts, should be left unprovoked with all possible dialogues and not offended.

While we keep away from such gaffes, we should get the customer to disclose those sufferings; while we face them, we should let the customer feel supported.

If in the neighborhood of your clinical practice there should be any overcrowded suburb, barracks surrounded by unoccupied businesses, shabby appartments filled with people in needs, or houses with thick mould growth, they must be carefully checked out in examinations; for these are factors where people at risk or insidious health hazards are likely to be residing.

Ray Murakami

All healthcare staff prefer high spirits to low and day shifts to night

All armies prefer high ground to low and sunny places to dark.

If you are careful of your men, and camp on hard ground, the army will be free from disease of every kind, and this will spell victory.

When you come to a hill or a bank, occupy the sunny side, with the slope on your right rear. Thus you will at once act for the benefit of your soldiers and utilize the natural advantages of the ground.

When, in consequence of heavy rains up-country, a river which you wish to ford is swollen and flecked with foam, you must wait until it subsides.

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:

The translation continues to try to replace geographical features by surrounding situations.

Translation:

All healthcare staff prefer high spirits to low and day shifts to night.

If you are careful of your staff, and provide psychological safety, the staff will be free from sick leaves of every kind, and this will spell clinical excellence.

When you come to a busy or difficult situation, highlight the positive achievements, with the provision of additional resources. Thus you will at once act for the benefit of your staff and utilize the natural advantages of the motivation.

When, in consequence of political upheaval, a change management which you wish to ford is swollen and flecked with uncertainties, you must wait until it subsides.

Ray Murakami

Do not overbook in order to meet the demands

Sun Tzu said: We come now to the question of encamping the army, and observing signs of the enemy. Pass quickly over mountains, and keep in the neighborhood of valleys.

Camp in high places, facing the sun. Do not climb heights in order to fight. So much for mountain warfare.

After crossing a river, you should get far away from it.

When an invading force crosses a river in its onward march, do not advance to meet it in mid-stream. It will be best to let half the army get across, and then deliver your attack.

If you are anxious to fight, you should not go to meet the invader near a river which he has to cross.

Moor your craft higher up than the enemy, and facing the sun. Do not move up-stream to meet the enemy. So much for river warfare.

In crossing salt-marshes, your sole concern should be to get over them quickly, without any delay.

If forced to fight in a salt-marsh, you should have water and grass near you, and get your back to a clump of trees. So much for operations in salt-marches.

In dry, level country, take up an easily accessible position with rising ground to your right and on your rear, so that the danger may be in front, and safety lie behind. So much for campaigning in flat country.

These are the four useful branches of military knowledge which enabled the Yellow Emperor to vanquish four several sovereigns.

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:

This translation requires quite a bit of imaginations and inspirations. Now the army is assimilated to the staffing level and the enemy to the demand.

Translation:

Sun Tzu would have said: We come now to the question of managing the staffing, and observing signs of demand surge. Pass quickly over peaks, and keep the demands in the community practices.

Secure a high number of appointment slots, scheduling on the week days. Do not overbook in order to meet the demands. So much for peak management.

After crossing a shift boundary, you should get the staff ready as soon as possible.

When a demand surge crosses a shift boundary in its onward patient inflow, do not advance to meet it in the midst of the handover. It will be best to let commenced encounters completed, and then deliver care by the next shift.

If you are treating an elective patient, you should not book an appointment near a shift boundary which the patient has to cross.

Lift your staffing level higher up than the demand, and book in regular hours. Do not move the handover timing to meet the demand. So much for shift boundary.

In crossing hours of critical staff shortage, your sole concern should be to get over them quickly, without any delay.

If forced to fight in a staff shortage, you should have medicines/fluids and supplies near you, and get your back with the nursing agency. So much for operations in staff shortages.

In usual, level staffing, take up an easily accessible staff list with experience levels, so that the difficult cases may be in experienced hands, and safe cases for the rests. So much for staffing in flat demand.

These are the four useful branches of staffing knowledge which would have enabled the Yellow Emperor to vanquish four several demand patterns.

Ray Murakami