So many books on this subject. Clausewitz, Jomini, & Liddell Hart are the best comprehensive sources on this subject. Liddell Hart is relatively more contemporary. But if you want something simpler then look no further then Sun Tzu. According to Sun Tzu in his Art of War there are five principles or factors that should be taken in consideration for laying of war plans:
* The Moral Law
The Moral Law causes the people to be in complete accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him regardless of their lives, undismayed by any danger.
* Heaven
Heaven signifies night and day, cold and heat, times and seasons (Weather).
* Earth
Earth comprises distances, great and small; danger and security; open ground and narrow passes; the chances of life and death.
* The Commander
The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerely, benevolence, courage and strictness.
* Method and discipline
By method and discipline are to be understood the marshaling of the army in its proper subdivisions, the graduations of rank among the officers, the maintenance of roads by which supplies may reach the army, and the control of military expenditure.
* The Moral Law
The Moral Law causes the people to be in complete accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him regardless of their lives, undismayed by any danger.
* Heaven
Heaven signifies night and day, cold and heat, times and seasons (Weather).
* Earth
Earth comprises distances, great and small; danger and security; open ground and narrow passes; the chances of life and death.
* The Commander
The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerely, benevolence, courage and strictness.
* Method and discipline
By method and discipline are to be understood the marshaling of the army in its proper subdivisions, the graduations of rank among the officers, the maintenance of roads by which supplies may reach the army, and the control of military expenditure.
