February 13, 2024 · 3 min read
February 13, 2024 · 3 min read
If you've ever wondered if/how business strategy and game theory can be learned from sports, and wanted to see a specific example of how strategy translates into execution, this article is awesome.
Context: This year's Super Bowl went into overtime with a format that had not been experienced before in Super Bowl history. The San Francisco 49ers won the coin toss — allowing them to choose whether they played offense or defense first — but ended up losing the game.
The announcers on-air talked about the decision, which is important because what you choose impacts how you play the rest of the game and what decisions you're able to make. As I often do during games, I remember thinking through the strategic nuances of why one might choose either option and decided I was a fan of the decision made.
Just like with any game, there were tons of opinions on what choice should have been made given the result. These opinions were amplified by comments made after the game by both teams (i.e., that the Kansas City Chiefs were elated that the 49ers chose offense, and that many 49ers players were not familiar with the newer overtime rules).
The parallels are evident to the business world — you see the outcome of a decision, hear some anecdotes, but typically are not knowledgeable about the nuances. Some examples:
While it's easy to criticize something that didn't play out well, this article provides context on the decision and goes into the WHY, something that is pivotal to practice thinking through as a business leader.
Spoiler: In both business and sports, the "right" answer depends on your world view going into the situation. Some assumptions are right, some are wrong, and many are irrelevant.
Also published on: LinkedIn