A modern parable
A Japanese company (Toyota) and an American company (Ford Motor Co.) decided
to have a canoe race on the Missouri River. Both teams practiced long and
hard to reach their peak performance before the race.
On the big day, the Japanese won by a mile.
The Americans, very discouraged and depressed, decided to investigate the
reason for the crushing defeat. A management team made up of senior
managementwas formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action.
Their conclusion was the Japanese had 8 people rowing and 1 person
steering, while the American team had 7 people steering and 2 people rowing.
Feeling a deeper study was in order; American management hired a consulting
company and paid them a large amount of money for a second opinion.
They advised, of course, that too many people were steering the boat, while
not enough people were rowing.
Not sure of how to utilize that information, but wanting to prevent another
loss to the Japanese, the rowing team's management structure was totally
reorganizedto 4 steering supervisors, 2 area steering superintendents, and 1 assistant
superintendent steering manager.
They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 2 people
rowing the boat greater incentive to work harder. It was called the 'Rowing
Team Quality First Program,' with meetings, dinners, and free pens for the
rowers. There was discussion of getting new paddles, canoes and other
equipment,extra vacation days for practices and bonuses. The pension program was
trimmed to 'equal the competition' and some of the resultant savings were
channeledinto morale boosting programs and teamwork posters.
The next year the Japanese won by two miles.
Humiliated, the American management laid-off one rower, halted development
of a new canoe, sold all the paddles, and canceled all capital investments
fornew equipment. The money saved was distributed to the Senior Executives as
bonuses.
The next year, try as he might, the lone designated rower was unable to
even finish the race (having no paddles), so he was laid off for
unacceptable performance,all canoe equipment was sold, and the next year'sracing team was
out-sourced to India.
Sadly, the end.............................
"some people are like slinkies, they're not really good for anything but they can bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs." –Unknown
"He did for bullshit what Stonehenge did for rocks." -Cecil Adams
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