好些年前，很沉迷一套漫畫，或許更像是書《歷史之眼》，是有關一個在馬其頓的書記官，尤米尼斯的人生經歷。
這套漫畫，對我來說更加像是有圖畫的人生傳記，劇情跌宕起伏，內容發人深省，就算衹是一本書來評價，那應該可能是我人生中看過最好的十本傳記書之一，很值得一看。
假如一一詳述這套傳記，恐怕變成冗文。
但當中一個橋段，雖短，卻令我對生意革新及改革這件事，有不少的體悟。
橋段大概如下:
男主角伴隨國王，在高地上觀察方陣的練成。
國王問：「你對這些方陣訓練，有什麼想法。」
男主角説：「應該是新兵吧，動作有點不劃一。」
國王問：「有什麼看法，或者有什麼小竅門，可以加速方陣的練成，先前聽聞你發明瞭一個小馬具(馬鐙)，讓騎馬的練習時間減短了。
有什麼看法，就算是開玩具鋪的想法也可以提出來。」(先前男主角為王子製作玩具)
男主角說：「我可是文官，這些陣法我不太熟悉，但先前聽聞過一位將軍説，方陣的威力，在於動作和紀律的統一吧。」
國王說：「是的。」
男主角說：「可以給我一些文具做這些統計嗎？」
國王表示一點驚訝，然後吩咐隨從拿文具，男主角詢問在台下的方陣士兵，說：「誰的慣用手是左手，誰的慣用手是右手，請坦白點。」
士兵有點驚訝，怕是不是有懲罰，國王開口安慰，這衹是做一個統計，請不必擔心。
之後統計結果出了，大概是九比一，每十個士兵之中，就有一個是左手作為慣用手。
統計結果出來了，國王有點搞不清楚狀況，問到：「所以這對訓練有什麼關係嗎？」
男主角說：「每個方陣中，如果一部分人，慣用手是左手的話，會對每個方陣的一致性都會有影響，假如將他們歸納為一個方陣，組成一個左手方陣，這樣方陣當中的不連貫，不是會少很多嗎？」
國王思考中。
男主角補充：「這樣不單止能夠減少訓練時間，在戰場上，左手方陣的攻擊方位與傳統右手的不同，九比一的配置，亦可以讓左手方陣，成為一種奇兵，增加佈陣的可能。」
再補充:「不單止長槍陣能夠這樣安排，弓兵，弓騎兵，槍騎兵，等等都可以。」
國王陷入沉思。
這件事過後，國王向宰相介紹男主角，說:「雖然最終考慮到現有的訓練模式、後勤管理以及在實際戰場上的應用和管理，最終沒有被採納這個方案，但這個人很有趣吧 ? 」
當時聽到這個故事衹是十多歲，能夠讓我從這個簡單的故事中，
1. 窺探了一個有效改革或者提案是如何推進的 ;
2. 一個大機構之中，一個細微的改動，或者一些單純的分類整理，卻可以讓整個局面有完全不同的變化 ;
3. 好的方案未必需要執行，改革的好處，未必大過改革的成本，駕馭一個大機構，任何一個細節的改動，牽涉面十分廣泛。
"Left, Right Hands, and the Formation of the Macedonian Phalanx"
Several years ago, I was deeply immersed in a comic book, or perhaps more like a book, called "The Eyes of History". It was about the life experiences of a scribe in Macedonia, Eumenes.
This comic book, to me, was more like an illustrated biography, with a dramatic and thought-provoking storyline. Even if it were just a book, it would probably be one of the ten best biographies I have ever read, and it is well worth a read.
To go into detailed descriptions of this biography would make this text overly verbose.
However, there is one episode, though brief, that has given me profound insights into business innovation and reform.
The episode goes something like this:
The protagonist accompanies the king to observe the training of the phalanx formation on the highlands.
The king asks, "What are your thoughts on this phalanx training?"
The protagonist replies, "They seem to be new recruits, their movements are a bit uncoordinated."
The king asks, "Do you have any suggestions or little tricks that could speed up the training of the phalanx? I've heard you invented a small piece of equipment (stirrup) that has reduced the training time for cavalry."
"Do you have any ideas, even if they are as simple as opening a toy shop?"
The protagonist says, "I am a civil servant, so I am not very familiar with these formations, but I've heard a general say that the power of the phalanx lies in the unity of movement and discipline."
The king nods, "Yes."
The protagonist says, "Could I have some writing materials to do some statistics?"
The king seems a bit surprised, then orders an attendant to bring the writing materials. The protagonist asks the soldiers in the phalanx below, "Who is left-handed, and who is right-handed? Please be honest."
The soldiers are a bit surprised, fearing punishment, but the king reassures them that this is just a statistical survey, so they need not worry.
The results of the survey show that the ratio is about 9:1, with one out of every ten soldiers being left-handed.
Seeing the results, the king seems puzzled, "So how does this affect the training?"
The protagonist explains, "If a portion of each phalanx is left-handed, it will affect the uniformity of the entire formation. If we group the left-handers together into a left-handed phalanx, wouldn't the lack of cohesion in that formation be greatly reduced?"
The king ponders this.
The protagonist adds, "Not only would this reduce training time, but on the battlefield, the attack angle of the left-handed phalanx would be different from the traditional right-handed one. With a 9:1 configuration, the left-handed phalanx could become a special force, increasing the flexibility of the deployment."
He further suggests, "This arrangement can be applied not only to the spear phalanx, but also to archers, cavalry archers, and lance cavalry, and so on."
The king falls into deep thought.
After this incident, the king introduces the protagonist to the prime minister, saying, "Although we ultimately decided not to adopt this proposal due to the existing training model, logistics management, and practical battlefield application and control, this person is quite fascinating, isn't he?"
When I heard this story in my early teens, it allowed me to glimpse:
How an effective reform or proposal is advanced;
How a minor adjustment or simple reorganization within a large organization can lead to dramatically different outcomes;
Good proposals may not necessarily be implemented, as the benefits of reform may not outweigh the costs, and any small change in a large organization can have far-reaching implications.