He who exercises no forethought but makes light of emergency scenarios is sure to be overwhelmed by them

If our troops are no more in number than the enemy, that is amply sufficient; it only means that no direct attack can be made. What we can do is simply to concentrate all our available strength, keep a close watch on the enemy, and obtain reinforcements.

He who exercises no forethought but makes light of his opponents is sure to be captured by them.

If soldiers are punished before they have grown attached to you, they will not prove submissive; and, unless submissive, then will be practically useless. If, when the soldiers have become attached to you, punishments are not enforced, they will still be useless.

Therefore soldiers must be treated in the first instance with humanity, but kept under control by means of iron discipline. This is a certain road to victory.

If in training soldiers commands are habitually enforced, the army will be well-disciplined; if not, its discipline will be bad.

If a general shows confidence in his men but always insists on his orders being obeyed, the gain will be mutual.

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:

Translated in terms of staffing to demand and enforcing best practices based on evidence.

Translation:

If our staff are no more in number than the demand, that is amply sufficient; it only means that no severe shortage can occur. What we can do is simply to concentrate all our available strength, keep a close watch on the sudden demand surge, and obtain reinforcements.

He who exercises no forethought but makes light of emergency scenarios is sure to be overwhelmed by them.

If patients are held accountable before they have grown attached to you, they will not prove compliant; and, unless compliant, then will be practically hopeless. If, when the patients have become attached to you, compliance is not enforced, they will still be hopeless.

Therefore patients must be treated in the first instance with humanity, but kept under control by means of the best practice. This is a certain road to recovery.

If in explaining patients best practices are habitually enforced, the treatment will be well evidence-based; if not, its outcome will be bad.

If a physician shows faith in his patients but always insists on best practices being obeyed, the gain will be mutual.

Ray Murakami

If the team sees an advantage to be gained and makes no effort to secure it, the members are exhausted

When the soldiers stand leaning on their spears, they are faint from want of food.

If those who are sent to draw water begin by drinking themselves, the army is suffering from thirst.

If the enemy sees an advantage to be gained and makes no effort to secure it, the soldiers are exhausted.

If birds gather on any spot, it is unoccupied. Clamor by night betokens nervousness.

If there is disturbance in the camp, the general's authority is weak. If the banners and flags are shifted about, sedition is afoot. If the officers are angry, it means that the men are weary.

When an army feeds its horses with grain and kills its cattle for food, and when the men do not hang their cooking-pots over the camp-fires, showing that they will not return to their tents, you may know that they are determined to fight to the death.

The sight of men whispering together in small knots or speaking in subdued tones points to disaffection amongst the rank and file.

Too frequent rewards signify that the enemy is at the end of his resources; too many punishments betray a condition of dire distress.

To begin by bluster, but afterwards to take fright at the enemy's numbers, shows a supreme lack of intelligence.

When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the enemy wishes for a truce.

If the enemy's troops march up angrily and remain facing ours for a long time without either joining battle or taking themselves off again, the situation is one that demands great vigilance and circumspection.

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:

Yet another tricky part. Descriptions of enemy soldiers are turned into those of clinicians regardless of the sides because those descriptions are mostly about motivations and morales.

Translation:

When the clinicians stand leaning on their stools, they are faint from want of food.

If those who are sent to draw water begin by drinking themselves, the team is suffering from thirst.

If the team sees an advantage to be gained and makes no effort to secure it, the members are exhausted.

If students gather on any spot, it is unoccupied. Clamor by night betokens nervousness.

If there is disturbance in the unit, the director's authority is weak. If the banners and flags are shifted about, sedition is afoot. If the officers are angry, it means that the members are weary.

When a team fills their stomaches with grain bars and kills their laptops for shutdown, and when the men do not leave their coffee-pots over the stoves, showing that they will not return to their desks, you may know that they are determined to complete the long procedure.

The sight of men whispering together in small knots or speaking in subdued tones points to disaffection amongst the rank and file.

Too frequent rewards signify that the team is at the end of his resources; too many punishments betray a condition of dire distress.

To begin by plaster, but afterwards to take fright at the test result numbers, shows a supreme lack of intelligence.

When envoys are sent with compliments in their mouths, it is a sign that the other service wishes for a staffing support.

If the other service's staff march up angrily and remain facing ours for a long time without either joining care or taking themselves off again, the situation is one that demands great vigilance and circumspection.

Ray Murakami

Resource proposals unaccompanied by a sworn budgeting indicate a plot

Humble words and increased preparations are signs that the enemy is about to advance. Violent language and driving forward as if to the attack are signs that he will retreat.

When the light chariots come out first and take up a position on the wings, it is a sign that the enemy is forming for battle.

Peace proposals unaccompanied by a sworn covenant indicate a plot.

When there is much running about and the soldiers fall into rank, it means that the critical moment has come.

When some are seen advancing and some retreating, it is a lure.

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:

Another challenging part. Here the enemy is translated into health policies which often cause headache to health professionals.

Translation:

Humble words and increased preparations are signs that the new health policy is about to advance. Violent language and driving forward as if to the attack are signs that the policy will be discarded.

When the temporary plans come out first and take up a position on the budget, it is a sign that the policy is forming for reform.

Resource proposals unaccompanied by a sworn budgeting indicate a plot.

When there is much running about and the secretaries fall into offices, it means that the critical moment has come.

When some are seen advancing and some retreating, it is a lure.

Ray Murakami

If their place of residence is easy of access, they are tendering a home care

When the enemy is close at hand and remains quiet, he is relying on the natural strength of his position.

When he keeps aloof and tries to provoke a battle, he is anxious for the other side to advance.

If his place of encampment is easy of access, he is tendering a bait.

Movement amongst the trees of a forest shows that the enemy is advancing. The appearance of a number of screens in the midst of thick grass means that the enemy wants to make us suspicious.

The rising of birds in their flight is the sign of an ambuscade. Startled beasts indicate that a sudden attack is coming.

When there is dust rising in a high column, it is the sign of chariots advancing; when the dust is low, but spread over a wide area, it betokens the approach of infantry. When it branches out in different directions, it shows that parties have been sent to collect firewood. A few clouds of dust moving to and fro signify that the army is encamping.

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 is exactly a difficult one. See how well it worked.

Translation:

When the intake population is close at hand and remains quiet, they are relying on the natural strength of their service access.

When they keep aloof and try to provoke a home visit, they are anxious for the other side to advance.

If their place of residence is easy of access, they are tendering a home care.

Movement amongst the trees along the driveway shows that the service users are advancing. The appearance of a number of faces in the midst of thick glass windows means that the service users wants to make us hurry.

The rising of siren with the flashlights is the sign of an ambulance. Scattered cars indicate that a emergency vehicle is coming.

When there is the number of visits rising in a winter, it is the sign of the flu advancing; when the number is low, but spread over a wide area, it betokens the efficacy of the herd immunity. When it branches out in different strains, it shows that patients have been overseas to acquire them. A few of  patients moving to and fro signify that the patients are vulnerable.

Ray Murakami

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