Champions League VS Software Development – Values

After the years, I’ve spent in Software Development, I’ve realized the following things:

1. Complex and successful solutions are made by TEAMS, not by unique and independent people
2. Software Development is NOT about Family but pretty close to Professional TEAM SPORT: both are high—competition business where talented teams are so important (not only because of this, but I will explain this vision in some other post)

Team Sport history has thousands of years. I’ve asked myself what we can take from this?

What about Values?

I think yes! I assume, it can give some ideas for Software Dev Teams and Companies which values should be promoted to become a leader.

Now the UEFA Champions League is running, so I decided that it will be pretty interesting to gather the Values of top, well-known football clubs with a long history.

Let’s begin.

Side note: I’ve added a link to their official webpage where values were mentioned.

FC Real Madrid

1. Excellence 
2. Winning Spirit
3. Universality
4. Solidarity 
5. Humility 

FC Barcelona

1. Humility
2. Effort
3. Ambition
4. Respect
5. Teamwork

FC Bayern Munchen

1. Be Successful
2. Be Inspiring
3. Be Committed
4. Dream Big

FC Borussia Dortmund

1. Intensity
2. Authenticity
3. Cohesion
4. Ambition

FC Liverpool 

1. Dignity
2. Ambition
3. Unity
4. Commitment

FC Arsenal

1. Always move forward
2. Be Together
3. Actions that Matter

FC Atlético de Madrid

1. Dignity
2. Ambition
3. Unity
4. Commitment

Side note: I also understand that sometimes values mentioned in public resources are a part of marketing, but I assume that it still representative and describes the culture or a target for it. Especially for a company (clubs) with a long history.

After I’ve gathered it together, I see clearly that all these values-words of winning clubs can be divided by following groups:

1. Achievement-orientation: includes values like Achievement, Be Successful, Winning Spirit, Ambition, Intensity etc.
2. High Standards & Motivation: Inspiration, Excellence, Be Inspiring, Dream Big etc.
3. Importance of Team & Personality:  Teamwork, Universality, Solidarity, Unity, Respect, Cohesion etc.
4. High Personal Qualities: Dignity, Humility, Respect, Commitment, Be Committed, Sacrifice etc.

So now you can check if the values of Your company and Yourself are in these groups and aligned with the values of top football clubs 😉

Definitely, Software Development is close to sport but not the same, and not all of these values should be there. But still, it has some sense for me.

Based on this analysis, I’ve asked myself which values from this list can be taken for my ideal Software Development Company. My choice is the following (without priority):

• Highest Value for Client (I have substituted Achievements to be closer to software development)— all our work should be transmitted into the highest value to the Client. It makes us win on the market.
• Excellence—to bring the highest value, and win a great prize, you need to set up and reach high targets and follow high standards.
• Teamwork — big wins are impossible without teamwork. Team players are valuable for us. Teamwork has trust, respect, friendship, cooperation, and unity behind.
• Inspiration—it’s difficult to set up high goals and win if you are not inspired, not motivated.

Side note: It’s also existing a chance that non-top clubs/companies have the same values. My opinion is:

• It depends on how these values really supported by the company, management and usual employees.
• Good values, even if they are fully supported, are helpful, but not enough to win. It depends on the right people with the right ideas in the right place, financial aspects, competitors etc.