INNOVATION AND EURO2012
A lot of media attention is focused on this
huge event, which is both business and entertainment. Clearly football is a
billion dollar business. This large business reflects the same behavior as
other large companies, i.e.
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A lack of innovation and
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A lack of courageous leadership
Lack of innovation
The rules by which football is played are
already the same for decades (except some minor changes). However, a change in
the rules can make the game much more attractive. Think about abolishing
offside. This will improve the customer experience a lot, because there is much
more speed and there will be (much) more goals. A much smaller sport like
(field) hockey has abolished offside some years ago and the number of goals
scored per math increased significantly. Scores like 7-3 or 6-5 are no
exception. Also there is much more action and no sleep inducing passing
anymore.
In international hockey games there is the
use of technology, like the video-referee to check the ‘real’ referee. A team
can request this arbitration a couple of times per game. This works really
well, as it is impossible to see everything from the right angle. Also the
speed is so high that it is very challenging for the human eye to follow. As
the financial interests are so huge, why not use technology to help the referee
make the right decisions. Football is delaying the implementation already for
many years. Also look at the lack of use of artificial grass.
Lack of courageous leadership
The leaders in football (FIFA; UEFA) are
really doing everything to defend the status quo, just like most leaders of
large companies do. No change in the rules, no use of technology, no limitation
in the number of participants per tournament etc. You can not expect any
disruptive innovation from these traditional leaders. The same is true for the coaches
of the national teams. They keep on playing with the same players as long as
possible. A newbie hardly gets any chance to play. They trust the experience of
the old ones. And thus they miss out on the dynamics and creativity of the
younger players. This frustrates the young ones and hampers their development. This
is a leadership disease: sticking too long to the old guard. They will only
defend their own turf and will certainly not bring any newness.
So, it is essential to keep your audience
(your customers!) interested by product/service innovation as well as
management innovation!
How are you doing in these areas?
Enthusiasm drives Excellence!
