Lions 76, Believers 0

It was a glorious day, the advent of the autumn season, and we were surrounded by 102,000 of our closest friends in that venerable shrine, Ohio Stadium.  Our stout lads pummeled the defanged rattlers of FAMU with wave after wave of punishing offense and defense.  It would have been a better game had FAMU put its band on the field; it would have been a superlative game had the Scarlets taken on the Grays in an intra-squad contest.  But, as dusk fell lightly on the scene of carnage, I tried to take stock of the meaning of a struggle that felt a bit like an afternoon in Rome's Coliseum in the heyday of the Caesars.  FAMU's fall was, at least, cushioned by landing on a million-dollar check.

But, as a college football game, the event was travesty cloaked in shame.  Happily, the Ohio State University won't schedule a no-contest against an FCS school ever again.  Our coach, and the team, showed commendable restraint, in attempting zero passes in the game's entire second half.  There's little that can be done, though, when a running back not even on the depth chart racks up 162 yards and two TDs, and the third-string quarterback can walk in a touchdown toward the end.  And, the first-string QB played not a single down.  One can only hope that other monster schools took note of the disgrace in scheduling such an opponent - not unworthy, but clearly, even blindingly, playing a different game at a different level.

Despite the let-down that hindsight brings, there are positive lessons for supply chain management practitioners in the orchestration and conduct of the massacre.  Perhaps the lessons have applicability in general business, as well.

One is that, before one may contemplate winning, there must be enough talent on board to be in the game at all.  No supply chain can be competitive with only the last century's leftovers; there has to be fresh talent in the larder, with new tools, new concepts, high energy, and great thinking abilities.  But, that's not enough.  For those who would be winners, the talent needs to be both wide and deep; the third string has to be able to step up and keep making progress.

Another is that, for sustained and sustainable success, the game plan must be pedal to the metal without letup, unlike showing a little mercy in a game.  It is a given, too often forgotten, that continuous improvement is just that - continuous.  The search for better ways and better outcomes never ends.  And, the transient condition of no one gaining ground on you is no reason to stop for a breather.  Competitors with a second wind can sprint past from out of nowhere.

Winning in the competition of supply chains means that, not only is it OK, it is highly recommended that the best time to go for another touchdown is when the score is already 69-0.  So much the better if it is scored by your third-string quarterback.