INTERVIEW EDGE • OCT 1994

World Cup Competency

When Brazil defeated the U.S. team in the World Cup Soccer playoffs this summer, they illustrated a key principle behind the focus on competencies.

Here is the principle. When companies reengineer or downsize, it requires more be done faster with fewer people. When a department is reduced from five people to four, the remaining four need to be more competent since they are now doing the work of five.

In the soccer match, due to a penalty, Brazil was down by one player for the entire second half. The U.S. team still could not score. Brazil had fewer players but they were more competent. They could do more, faster than the U.S. players.

In business as in championship soccer, the team with fewer but more competent players is going to win.