The World Cup - play to your strengths (part 2)

At the end of my last blog post, said I would continue it after the second half of the world cup final was over. However, I didn't do this. Perhaps writing a blog isn't necessarily playing to my strengths.

That Monday morning, I had temporarily moved to using Google Chrome - and was using an extension that works with Blogger. That initial spurt of excitement got me blogging. Since then, I have moved back to Firefox. As a browser I really like Google Chrome. Personally, I would like a few small things to change before I can move to it full time.

Returning back to the main post on the soccer game, I missed the majority of the first half which started at 4.30 in the morning. I am not that much of a soccer fan. Watching some of the replays, I was disturbed by the cynical defense of the Dutch team - quite contrary to my earlier post praising them.

Spain were the better team, and the deserved to win. The Dutch proved how far you can go, if you pay attention to the little details, and execute each of the little items extremely well.

The World Cup - play to your strengths

Its half-time at the World Cup Final. The review panel of SBS (Special Broadcasting Service) Australia consisting of Australian Football luminaries are extremely disappointed with how the Dutch are playing. They quoted Johan Cruyff who apparently said that the Dutch shouldn't win by playing ugly. Cruyff is prefers the beauty and flow of the Spanish game. Is beautiful football enough to win the World Cup?

Playing ugly is a relative term - this is not Italy vs. Brazil in 1994. In this context, it's because the current Dutch strategy is not 'Total Football'. Which brings me to the question, is playing beautiful better than playing functional?

The Dutch are playing to their strengths and not what pundits claim to be how the game should be played. They are delivering results, with skill - which in its own way is beautiful.

First, the Dutch have eliminated the non functional beauty. No over-engineering, or gold-plated production. It just works, and works all the time.

Second, what they do, they do really, really well. When its working, its working perfectly.

Thirdly, they have skill, and execute it perfectly.

What does this mean for the Project Management and Requirement Gathering?

Basically, try to be as beautiful as you can and design the most elegant solution. However, if things are not working out, be prepared to change the rules, and play to your strengths.

TBC - the second half has started.