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As the speculated performance of the top teams reduce, 'Predictably Irrationals' rise to the top spot from second with 10% improvement. The other five only improved by between 3% and 6% leaving the opportunity for others to catch up. BUT the highest improvement in the chasers was 'Hacksaw' rising to seventeenth from twenty second with an 8% improvement. All other chasers had lower improvements such as 0%, 3%, 5%. These gains weren't going to catch the leaders and we can't remember a time when low scores have been so extensive across most of the teams. It looks like the chasers may have missed an opportunity.
The top six are the same as before with 'Wacky workforce' dropping to second. 'Titans', 'Lounge4', 'Team1', and 'SPARTANS' all remain in positions three to six. Only 548 points separate the top six, it is close but it has been even closer in the past.
'Ozzy' in seventh are only 108 points behind the sixth place and 'KAPtains' in eighth are 250 points adrift so changes are still possible even from further back.
With one round to go there will some tension in both the top teams defending their position and the chasers still chasing. The positions may well change but it's impossible to predict. Experience suggests that the chasers will take the biggest risks in their pursuit of a top place. The top six will probably check everything many times to ensure that they don't make last minute silly mistakes that wreck their performance. Lower down everyone will still be trying to improve their final position. There is genuine satisfaction in generating an improvement at this stage and ending on a higher ranking.
The top six still have things to prove in order to defend their position making sure there are no mistakes. The immediate cluster chasing the top six are stressed by kneading to identify the decisions that will propel them upwards. Other teams are stressed trying to improve their recipe so as to end on a higher ranking.
We can't wait to see what comes out of the oven.
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It all seems calm at the top as the top six are the same. 'Wacky Workforce' and 'Predictably Irrationals' retain positions one and two 'TITANS 'rise one place to three swapping with 'Lounge 4' who slip to 4. 'Team 1' and 'Spartans' retain places five and six.
Examining the percentage improvements show that the top six recorded improvement of 10%-15% except for 'Lounge 4' who managed only 8%. These were enough to keep them in the top six. Immediately below them most of the other teams had an under 10% improvement. Thus the chasers aren't showing a differential improvement above the top six which is why they are not catching them. 'Nott McDonalds' and 'We're InCrane' both rose five places with 13% improvement but are twenty and twenty first. Teams below the top six should calculate the percentage improvement needed to catch the top six and there are two rounds to go to bridge that gap. Its time for the chasing team take perhaps more risky decisions to gamble on a good improvement. Usually the top six, as said before, are likely to become cautious at this stage not wanting to lose their place so might not return high improvement figures making them easier to catch.
What will yield the biggest gains, winning work at the right price, getting the most experienced project manager on the right job will improve efficiency and return on that project, recovering your income on projects by having an appropriate level of measurement staff will improve your cash position, making sure the capital in your company is being well used watch the ratio of turnover to capital, review your overheads are their savings you've overlooked before and don't forget your shareholders they need rewarding.
Its time to rock the boat.
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The top six are now the top seven as 'SPARTANS' and 'Ozzy' both rank equal in sixth place. 'SPARTANS' retained their sixth place with an improvement of 7% whereas 'Ozzy' dropped from third place to sixth equal with a -2% improvement. What decisions did 'Ozzy' take to drop or did they make a mistake in the entry, it has happened before!
Positions one and two swap places with 'Wacky workforce' rising to first from second and 'Predictably Irrationals' dropping from first to second their improvements were 14% and 10%.
'Lounge 4' are up by one place in third with 7% improvement. 'TITANS' also rise one place to fourth with 10% improvement.
'Team 1' back in the top six rising two places to fifth with 11% improvement.
'Master Minds' hold their place rising one to 11th with 11% improvement but 'Hacksaw' look the best performer rising from twenty fourth to sixteenth also with 11% improvement.
So there is still scope to catch the lower orders of the top six.
Its time for the chasers to chase hard. Take risks that, if they payoff, will catapult you up the league table. Of course with risks there is always the prospect that it will go the other way!
As the end comes in sight, the leaders start to get nervous enough to try to defend their position and their decisions start to become more cautious and less rewarding. Was this what happened to 'Ozzy'? This gives the opportunity for the followers to catch them.
But never the less, whether you're chasing or defending, the rigour of decision making must remain. The Team Leader needs to ensure that their team members all contribute, that they understand the consequences of the decisions they are proposing, and that the decisions are fully discussed. Disciplined decision making, teamwork and leadership becomes even more important when judging greater risks.
Also don't forget the shareholders. They own the company and are looking for their share of profits – low dividends will have a negative impact on share value. It's tempting to use the funds for dividends to bolster the company's other activities (marketing for example) but it's no time to abandon the shareholders in the pursuit.