Title: Exploring thinking from antiquity in managing logistics, supply and resources: Chinese Sun Tzu, Indian Kautilya and supply chain management

Authors: Foo Check-Teck

Addresses: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798; University of St Andrews, Scotland, UK; City University of New York ASEAN Office, Singapore

Abstract: In this article, the author first reviews briefly and selectively the literature on supply chain management. He then explores the roots of strategic thinking on supply strategy. From China, he focuses on Sun Tzu|s the Art of War (bing-fa in pinyin) and from India, the work of Arthashastra by Kautilya (also known as Chanakya and Vishnugupta). What is found is that whilst there is a very extensive literature on supply chain management, both the works by Sun Tzu and Kautilya are rarely mentioned as part of it. Yet as this article will document, these very ancient works Art of War and Arthashastra besides being deeply enmeshed in Chinese and Indian cultures, respectively, contain insights relevant for supply strategy.

Keywords: Arthashastra; Art of War; Kautilya; supply chain management; SCM; logistics; resource management; Sun Tzu; strategic thinking; Chanakya; Vishnugupta; China; India; culture; ancient works; ancient literature.

DOI: 10.1504/IJICBM.2010.030750

International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management, 2010 Vol.3 No.2, pp.121 - 137

Published online: 03 Jan 2010 *

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