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The theory of the art of war exerts a great influence on the organisation and management studies that in the 90s increased significantly. It is a twofold influence. Firstly it is a cursory influence of military language, secondly its is a methodological and factual influence with serious consequences for conducting organisation and management studies. The article discusses the methodological basis for applying the principles of “civilian” management and the art of war principles by distinguishing two different co-ordination mechanisms. The author puts forward a thesis that in normal conditions of market competition the use of, by analogy, the principles of armed forces commanding is not satisfactorily justified in economic activity. The commonly used notion of “competitive battle” diverts the attention from the most essential fact that competition is not a form of battle, but a form of co-operation. However, applying the principles of the art of war is possible and recommended in specific situations, i.e. crisis management.