Sport is often used as a metaphor in business, comparing the effort of the team with that of the organization. The goal of such a comparison is to improve your business (process) from what you observe and learn from sports, in this case soccer.

There are two relevant questions. First, what team will perform best? And, will the best team win? But to focus on the comparison, you should focus on the second question only, because the first is basically about quality which is difficult to measure. So; what will make a team win the games? There are several factors all present in either area:

• Factor one Luck. Ordinary luck, we are not able to influence everything, you need some kind of luck to win ... Like "the hand of God" (Maradona)?
• Factor two Environmental influences (Back luck): A wrong decision of a referee falls in this category. Also, your starting position in the group may be more of a challenge than for other teams. This seems even more true in business where circumstances are never really equal.
• Factor three Individual talent and specialists. The football player is a world (global) profession. Players all over the world are exchanged and transferred, which makes that technical differences between countries are assimilated. Technical talent becomes less of a differentiator. Same as in business, professionals are available especially in highly specialist environments (law, medicine, engineering, etc). It is less true in those businesses where the profile of a professional is harder to define.
• Factor four Teamwork. Teamwork is more and more of a differentiator, both in business as in sports. Although it is difficult to examine what teamwork is, you can tell when observing a game: the player that passes the ball to someone who freed himself from his opponent; ready to score. The most difficult factor to manage, both in business but especially when you have a team of (individual) top talent.
• Factor five coaching, training and preparations. Being prepared! This involves all the strategy behind the game. Observing the opponents, preparing the tactics... The role of the coach should be underestimated; It is all to do with time to market., You have got only a limited time to prepare and you cannot switch direction in the middle. Right to the point to constitute a winning team. In business this is done by searching for new challenges. Try to increase the targets up to a level that they are still credible.
• Factor six gear. In sport this is hardly an issue. Top players use top gear. In business this is different. Investing in gear like systems, infrastructure and working methods, etc. is where a company will make the difference.
• Factor seven Threshold or entrance level. In order to excel in any area, you first need to enter the league. You must reach the threshold of all those factors that are basic. These cover technique, teamwork, training, stamina, coaching and all other competences that are required.

2006 Hans Bool