Strategy, Structure and Systems: Sun Tzu’s Thinking and the Holonic Network of the Toyota Dealer System (TDS)—A Romanian Case Study

Globally, 93 million cars are currently produced, with Toyota accounting for about 10% of the global market. However, its position is more modest in the Electric Vehicle (EV) industry. The automotive industry in Romania began at Dacia Pitesti in the 1970s, based on a license obtained from Renault. This research explores how a profound strategic vision, inspired by Sun Tzu's philosophy, can influence a company's organizational structure over time. In Toyota's case, this vision resulted in a dealer network that functions not only as a logistics system but also as a holonic system. The study is based on 194 questionnaires administered by the authors, along with 40 interviews with managers and specialists from Toyota Dealers Romania. Its novelty lies in analyzing the Toyota Dealers System (TDS) through the concept of holonic networks. The study concludes that the success of keiretsu groups is explained by combining Sun Tzu's thinking with the principles of holonic networks. The findings are valuable both conceptually, for future research, and practically, as they offer clear directions for developing strategies and organizing a company's market relationships.