Playing For Gold! (And Black)

Dr. David HancockDr. David Hancock

BEng, CEng, PhD, MBA, FIMM, BEng, CEng, PhD, MBA, FIMM, FRSAFRSA

David Hancock Consulting LtdDavid Hancock Consulting Ltd

Dr. David HancockDr. David Hancock

BEng, CEng, PhD, MBA, FIMM, BEng, CEng, PhD, MBA, FIMM, FRSAFRSA

David Hancock Consulting LtdDavid Hancock Consulting Ltd

Playing for Gold!Playing for Gold! (And Black)

What lessons can project management learn from extremely high

performance teams in the sporting arena?

What lessons can project management learn from extremely high

performance teams in the sporting arena?

AgendaAgenda

• London Wasps

• Work Environment

• Management & Leadership

• Innovation

• Technology

• People

• Conclusions

• Results

Elements of Performing Teams Elements of Performing Teams

Membership

• size of the group

• compatibility ofmembers

• permanence

Work Environment

• nature of the task

• physical setting

• communications

• technology

Group Development and Maturity

• forming

• storming

• norming

• performing

Organisational

• management andleadership

• personnel policies and procedures

• success

• external threat

Group Cohesiveness and Performance

Membership

• size of the group

• compatibility ofmembers

• permanence

Work Environment

• nature of the task

• physical setting

• communications

• technology

Group Development and Maturity

• forming

• storming

• norming

• performing

Organisational

• management andleadership

• personnel policies and procedures

• success

• external threat

Group Cohesiveness and Performance

London WaspsLondon WaspsLondon WaspsLondon Wasps

Work Environment Work Environment

Management & LeadershipManagement & Leadership

Director of Rugby• Warren

Gatland

Coach• Shaun Edwards

OBE

• A belief in shared aims and objectives

• A sense of commitment to the group

• Acceptance of group values and norms

• A feeling of mutual trust and dependency

• Full participation by all members and decision making by consensus

• A free flow of information and communications

• Open expression of feelings and disagreements

• The resolution of conflicts by the members themselves

Characteristics of Performing Characteristics of Performing TeamsTeams

Blitz Defence

Innovation Innovation

Blitz Defence

• Need to train new players

• Educate officials

• Tolerate mistakes in the early days

• Ongoing development over time by coaches

Innovation Innovation

Technology Technology

• Leon Holden– Technical Analyst

• Video Analysis– Every Game / Every Player– Feedback on performance at a personal level– Look Forward (Next Opponents)

Technology Technology

• Video

• On field statistical capture & evaluation (Laptops)

• Radios two way (Encrypted!)

• Immediate and longer term feedback for development programmes

PerformancePerformance DashboardDashboardPassing

37%

38%

25%

Expected

Good

Poor

Breakdowns

50%

17%

33%

Expected

Good

Poor

Throwing in

33%

0%67%

Expected

Good

Poor

Passing

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Poor

Good

Expected

Breakdowns

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Poor

Good

Expected

Throwing in

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Poor

Good

Expected

Overall Effectiveness

28%

11%61%

Expected

Good

Poor

Throwing in

34%

25%

17%

8%

8%

8%

Expected

Too High

Wrong Number

Not Straight

Caught by Opposition

Try for opposition

• Wasps Academy (Talent Spotting& Development)

The Academy is split into three levels -Level 1 (14 to 18 yrs) - EPDC - coached and developed by London

Wasps staff at Elite Players Development Centres (EPDC's). This process is in place to improve the skills, fitness and game understanding of players and also to act as a means of identification of players for progression.

Level 2 (16 to 21 yrs ) - the Regional Academy - 25 players maximum, funded through Sport England via the RFU, to provide resource to players in the development components of fitness, nutrition, analysis, physiotherapy, lifestyle management, educational advice and guidance, plus managed match playing programmes. The purpose being to produce players up to international playing standard.

Level 3 (18 to 23 yrs ) - National Academy - headed by Brian Ashton to prepare elite players for international duty.

The Academy is designed to develop English qualified players.

Recruitment Recruitment

• Ability - they are able to do so (they can do the job because they possess the necessary knowledge and skills)

• Motivation - they have the motivation to do so (they will do the job because they are adequately incentivised)

• Opportunity - their work environment provides the necessary support and avenues for expression

The AMO Model The AMO Model

High Performing High Performing TeamsTeams

• Understanding self

• Understanding team members

• Playing to team and individual strengths

• Protecting team and individuals against weaknesses

• Single Vision (Warren’s)

• Passion & Commitment

• Fairness not Equality

• High use of Technology– feedback on performance both positive and

negative (supported by evidence)

• Understanding motivation at a personal level

Success defined by ‘Winning’ is everything

Conclusions Conclusions

PremiershipPremiership2002/2003

Gloucester 82 Wasps 67 Northampton 62 Sharks 62 Leeds 58 Leicester 55 Harlequins 44 Saracens 42 London Irish 40 Newcastle 40 Bath 36 Bristol 36

2004/2005

Leicester 78 Wasps 73 Sale 60 Bath 58 Saracens 57 Gloucester 47 Newcastle 47 Leeds 43 Worcester 42 London Irish 40 Northampton 40 Harlequins 38

2003/2004

Bath 79 Wasps 73 Northampton 70 Gloucester 63 Leicester 55 Harlequins 54 Sale 53 London Irish 49 Newcastle 45 Saracens 39 Leeds 37 Rotherham 3

2002/20032002/2003−Parker PenParker Pen−Zurich Zurich

PremiershipPremiership

The Gatland EraThe Gatland Era

2003/20042003/2004−Zurich Zurich

PremiershipPremiership−Heineken CupHeineken Cup2004/20052004/2005−Zurich Zurich

PremiershipPremiership

2004/2002004/20055

2005/2002005/20066

Contact David HancockContact David Hancock

And And Beyond?Beyond?

2006 Waikato Air New Zealand Cup Winners

2008 Wales Rugby Grand Slam Winners

2008 Forwards Coach British and Irish Lions