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MENTAL MODEL · M9009

Maintain Orthodoxy, Create Surprise

Maintain Orthodoxy, Create Surprise
CultureHigh supportChinese Philosophy
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Updated 2026-08-22

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INTRODUCTION

English translation pending.

CORE DEFINITION

A formulation from Chinese military thought, often paired with the principle of engaging with the orthodox and winning with the unorthodox. Applied to strategy, it holds that the fundamentals must be solid before a differentiated move is attempted, since the unconventional action needs a stable base to exploit its gains. The qualification is that the two are complementary, so neither a purely conventional competitor nor a purely speculative one survives for long.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

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Reduce cognitive load

- Use Base First: make the product, execution, and compliance solid before attempting a distinctive move. - Use Differentiation Reserve: keep a portion of resources for the unconventional option.

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Anchor fast decisions

A surprise move creates an advantage only if the organisation can hold the position it opens. Fundamentals supply that holding power, so a differentiated move without a solid base produces a gain that cannot be defended, while a solid base without differentiation competes only on cost.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

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    zh.wikipedia.orghttps://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AD%99%E5%AD%90%E5%85%B5%E6%B3%95ZH · Explicit
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