故三軍之親莫親於間賞莫厚於間事莫密於間
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu suggests that spies, or individuals who gather information covertly, should be treated with great care and consideration within an army. Sun Tzu advises that maintaining close relationships with spies and rewarding them generously is important, and that the work of spies should be kept secret above all else.
Hence it is that with none in the whole company are more intimate relations to be maintained than with sources. None should be more liberally rewarded. In no other business should greater secrecy be preserved.
It is essential to maintain close relationships with individuals who act as sources of information. These sources should be treated with the utmost care and consideration. They should be generously rewarded for their efforts, as their contributions are invaluable. In addition, it is imperative that the work of these sources be kept strictly confidential. In no other area of the company’s operations should greater secrecy be maintained, as revealing the activities of these sources could compromise their effectiveness and put them at risk.