Soccer vs. Software

Imagine a soccer team. It's a lot like a team that builds software.

Both teams have people with different skills, jobs, ages, and how much they know.

Here's how they're alike:

• Everyone has a job: You can't have a team with only goalies or only strikers. The same goes for software – you need different kinds of people.

• Help from experts: People who know more help and guide those who know less.

• Everyone shares the work: It's not good if only the experienced people or only the new people do all the work.

• Staying focused is hard: Winning one game (finishing a small task) is easy. Keeping your eye on the big goal (the whole project) is tough.

• Skills and teamwork matter: You need to know how to play (do your job), but you also need to be a good teammate.

• The coach helps you get ready: The coach helps the team get ready to play their best. But the coach can't play the game for them.