Conquer the Alps of systems development, Armstrong-style

Cycling up a mountain and developing business system software solutions have much in common: for one thing, they are both hard work. However, they are both conquerable, especially if approached in the right way, with the right attitude.

If you start from a base of low readiness, the work will not just be difficult but it will leave you swearing, "Never again". If you are prepared for the task ahead and are willing to do what it takes to annihilate the challenge at hand, the results will be rewarding, says Chris Wilkins, joint-CEO of DVT.

The words "cycling" and "Lance Armstrong" have become synonymous; one cannot be spoken without the other coming to mind. Armstrong has overcome his nearly fatal encounter with cancer to win the coveted Tour de France seven consecutive times; be named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year, ESPN`s ESPY Award and BBC Sports Personality of the Year: Overseas Personality; and become a prominent activist in the ongoing fight against cancer.

Unwittingly, he has also become an icon with sage advice for those in the most unlikely of environments: information technology, business systems development to be precise.

Throughout the sporting fraternity, it has been agreed that there are several reasons that explain Armstrong`s success in the saddle (and in his life in general). If most of these are applied to the development of business systems, success is easily achievable and the creation of these solutions will be made to look as easy as Armstrong makes riding up Hors Category mountain climbs (those that are too difficult to be categorised) look on his days off.

Just as Armstrong has learned to apply an obsessive focus to every challenge he faces in life - from cancer to the final Tour de France climb up Alpe d`Huez - so to must the development of business systems be characterised by obsession.

Methodology to guide the development process must be meticulously followed and all the necessary needs analyses and studies be conducted to truly understand what the mountain ahead looks like, and what it can deliver as you ascend. When prepared for the onslaught, expectations are realistically in line with what is achievable.

Armstrong`s champion has been Johan Bruyneel, US Postal`s sports director. He not only believes in his prodigy`s abilities, but he understands the need that drives him and what is needed to get him over each hill and across every finish line in a winning position. While on his bicycle, Armstrong is in constant radio contact with Bruyneel; listening, advising.

The same needs to be done when developing business systems. To ensure success, there must be a champion of the project; a person who understands the organisational needs, is prepared to climb the hill ahead, no matter what obstacles may be faced, and is capable of staying in communication with the people who support the initiative; listening to what they need and advising courses of action.

Just as Armstrong relies heavily on his team to help him achieve Tour de France victory after victory, you must ensure that a worthy team supports the project champion. Much research has been undertaken in the cycling world regarding the effort professional cyclists exert. Even an amateur cyclist understands that there is value to be gained in slipstreaming or riding in a pack.

In his research around cyclists` energy expenditure, Asker Jeukendrup, director of the Human Performance Laboratory at the University of Birmingham, found that in the pack the cyclist uses an average of 98 watts, while on his own that same cyclist expends an average of 275 watts to maintain his speed.

The same applies in the development environment: with a solid support team, the energy and cost expended in developing business systems can be significantly reduced.

Just as Armstrong must plan his attacks to maximise their impact on the other cyclists and increase his overall lead, so to must you plan the course of action that will maximise the positive outcomes of the business systems being developed. You must be ready to defend against attacks from financial directors who may be faced with the task of reducing costs for any given period and you must be ready to capitalise on any successes achieved without hesitation.

Armstrong`s riding style is distinctive, with a higher cadence than most cyclists are able to maintain over extended periods. In the same vein, you must decide whether you are going to approach business systems development using only brute strength or if you are opting for high cadence which offers less worker fatigue (legs) and greater management involvement (cardiovascular systems).

Winning a Tour de France, and successfully developing business systems, also requires an all-rounder approach, where those involved in the project are not only specialists in one specific field. There must be a variety of skills that will ensure the project makes it over each hill, keeps pace with the sprints and survives the push along the hard flats.

Finally, the US Postal cycling team follows a Formula 1 style when it comes to equipment and suppliers. Rather than sourcing equipment from around the globe, it looks for suppliers that are able to combine resources and work closely together to provide an overall superior solution. The same approach has benefits for IT environments as well. When developing business systems it is as important to be supported by suppliers that provide the necessary equipment and support more than they do any complications.

Ultimately, face the development of business systems with the same determination, preparation, support and enthusiasm that professional cyclists attack each mountain. Not only will getting to the top seem less burdensome and exhausting, but also victory inevitably awaits.