NetSuite adds Oakland A's GM Beane to its board

NetSuite will get some metrics tutoring from Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane, who is widely known for his statistical approach to baseball.

The company, which makes on-demand business software suites, appointed Beane to its board of directors. Apparently, NetSuite crunched the numbers and figured there was some insight to be gained from a guy who has led the A's to a 732-563 (.565) record over the last eight seasons.

NetSuite said Beane, who was the subject of Michael Lewis' book "Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game," can provide management and analysis insights:

"Billy's outrageously successful approach in changing the game of baseball by managing using facts to supplement instinct is very similar to the transformation our customers undergo when they move their business to NetSuite," said Evan Goldberg, chairman, co-founder, and CTO of NetSuite.

The Oakland A's are a customer of NetSuite and often make the playoffs.

So what will NetSuite get out of this?

For starters, the company gets a nice customer reference and some marketing heft. Picture a Silicon Valley CEO and Oakland fan who is on the fence about NetSuite. Beane does a meet and greet and deal is closed.

What remains to be seen is how NetSuite uses Beane's advice. If the company starts trading sales folks just before their performance begins to slide you know Beane's advice was taken. NetSuite may even start talking about on-base percentages instead of total cost of ownership.