Six Golf Lessons Applied to Mobile App Development and Deployment

One does not have to be an avid golfer to understand the basic concept of playing golf. The game strategy is that the player with the fewest strokes taken to place a small white ball into 18 different cups spread over a 7,000 yard course wins the match.



How do lessons taken from golf apply to mobile app development and deployment? Here are six possibilities to consider:




(1) Creating and writing mobile app code can take a fundamental tip from golf that LESS IS BEST. Business and social mobile apps all compete for a finite amount of storage space in mobile devices. So, does one try to create an app that reasonably performs multiple functions; or, does one create an app that does only one function really well?



(2) NO CHEATING IS ALLOWED. Golf is a self-regulated game. That is why the concept of penalty strokes comes into play. While imitation may be a sincere form of flattery in some industries, blatant copying of business concepts, look and feel, and other proprietary programming techniques is simply plagiarism.



(3) FOLLOW-THROUGH IS FUNDAMENTAL. You may have heard the golf catch phrase "drive for show, but putt for dough." Mobile software development strategy is the same. Integration into back-end Enterprise applications can sound flashy (for show), andthey may give the marketing impression that their software is of "professional" grade quality; however, the real genius(for dough) for a mobile app may be found in the attention to details evident on the front-end where tiny changes can make a big difference in user perceptions.



(4) THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Anyone who plays can testify that golfers are always seeking an edge with their equipment. Hybrid clubs made from high-tech metals and ceramic materials; special grips; incredibly coated golf balls; glove-like shoes; and, much more, have all combined to make average golfers better; and, to make above average golfers superior.



The same is true for mobile technology. Not all mobile devices are created equal and not all mobile OS are created equal. There are ample arguments being made, elsewhere, that the concept of BYOD (bring your own device) should be replaced with CYOD (choose your own device from a list of approved technology offerings). I envision that eventually there will a consolidation of mobile devices and their manufacturers. It certainly has happened with computers. At some future point, the clear technology hardware winners will emerge and the BYOD choices will narrow. Why wait? Narrow your choices now.



(5) RULES AND STANDARDS ARE VITAL TO HEALTHY SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT. When it comes to device and software security, MAM, and MDM, and other software development issues, there are common-sense rules that everyone should abide by. Trying to shortcut development standards helps no one long-term. Why reinvent the wheel when it already exists? Embrace rules and standards.



(6) TARGETING AUDIENCES CORRECTLY IS PARAMOUNT. Why do you suppose CBS spends millions broadcasting the Masters Tournament from Augusta? It's just another golf match, right? If you think that, then the Super Bowl is just another football game, right? No, not exactly. The lure of the Masters is that it features the best players, which attracts a certain demographic audience, which advertisers can target to sell their products, which translates into sales - the lifeblood of business.



In 2013, the Masters Tournament broadcast drew a 21 ratings share and 18 million viewers, which was up 26% over the 13.5 million viewers in 2012.Advertisers got their money's worth, and then some! Was anyone watching the other channels? I know I wasn't.



Finally, here's the best takeaway lesson to be learned from golf by mobile software app development companies. There can only be one Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson or Adam Scott. And, they compete head-to-head nearly every weekend on a world stage.



How would your company be viewed on a world stage of mobile app developers? Leading the field, in contention to take the lead, an amateur at best, or, never making the final cut? Being good at mini-golf is very different than being able to play on the PGA tour.



Worldwide, there are hundreds of software companies, ISVs, and business consultants that tout they are ERP business partners developing mobile business apps. However, the actual number of companies listed by independent research companies, like Gartner and Forrester, to be real players in the mobility software industry, is a handful. Competition will be fierce for the same audience of buyers and users.



So, how does one make one's app standout from the crowd? How does one attract positive attention? What gives your mobile app a competitive edge? What is your strategy to win the match, and more importantly, win the hearts of your target audience?



It is worth repeating: hoping for the best is not a reliable strategy.
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