The Application of Sun Tzu’s Art of War in Modern Management and Business Strategy: A Literature Review

Abstract

Classical strategic philosophy continues to influence modern management thought. Over the past decade, new research has found that Sun Tzu's Art of War applies not only to ancient military texts but also to business strategy and modern management. However, existing research is scattered and requires a systematic review. The current systematic review aims to fill this gap by incorporating 29 articles indexed in the Clarivate Analytics Web of Science (WoS) database between 2016 and 2025 using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Through thematic synthesis, this study reveals the implications of Sun Tzu's Art of War for corporate planning, resource allocation, and management behavior in three main themes, which are strategic decision-making, leadership development, and competitive advantage. The results demonstrate that the ancient military treatises on military strategy are equally applicable to today's dynamic environment. This paper also discusses the implications and limitations of these findings for future research and practice.