by Eddy Parham, OD Guy

       Organizations, like any good team, know the importance of having a game plan. The game plan scripts how a team is going to approach the competition, what strategies it will use and how best to put itself in the best possible position to win – whatever “win” looks like for that organization. For a sports team a win can be measured in terms of points scored. To a for profit company, a win might be measured in terms of revenue, market growth, or the value of its stock. A governmental entity might consider a win in terms of offering a high quality of life to its citizenry. But no matter how a “win” is measured a game plan is most certainly needed if the team is to have any chance of winning.

       More important than the game plan though is the scoreboard. The reason that the scoreboard is so important is that it provides real time data as to what is happening to the team. In football for instance, the coach uses the data from the scoreboard, such as the number downs, the amount of time left in the quarter, the team’s field position, and the number of points the team has in relation to its opponent to determine the plays that he calls. You see, the coach develops the game plan because he wants a certain outcome and he feels that his game plan will give him that outcome. The game plan is what he wants to happen. But, the scoreboard tells him what is happening. If the team wants to accomplish its goals then it must know the score.

       Remember, a game plan is a great thing to have but if the team isn’t scoring then it must adjust its plan. Albert Einstein once said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting to get different results. A scoreboard will go a long way in helping prevent insanity - just make sure that what the scoreboard is measuring is truly what needs to be measured, though that is a topic for a different time.