Start Rowing

[Azat]

A Japanese company and an American company decided to have a canoe race

on the St. Johns 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.

 

Afterwards, the American team became very discouraged and morally

depressed. The American management decided that the reason for the

crushing defeat had to be found. A "Measurement Team," made up of senior

management was formed. They would investigate and recommend appropriate

action

 

Their conclusion was that the Japanese had 8 people rowing and 1 person

steering, while the Americans had 1 person rowing and 8 people steering.

So American management hired a consulting company and paid them

incredible amounts of money. They advised that too many people were

steering the boat and not enough people were rowing.

 

To prevent losing to the Japanese again next year, the rowing team's

management structure was totally reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 3

area steering superintendents and 1 assistant superintendent steering

manager.

 

They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 1

person 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 rower: "We must give the rower empowerment and enrichments

through this quality program."

 

The next year the Japanese won by 2 miles.

 

Humiliated, the American management laid off the rower for poor

performance, halted development of a new canoe, sold the paddles, and

canceled all capital investments for new equipment. Then they gave a High

Performance Award to the steering managers and distributed the money

saved as bonuses to the senior executives.

[THOTH]

File under the heading of "Sad but true" eh? LOL

[Sip]

Depends if you're a rower or a steerer. But better yet, if you're working for the consulting company, then you're set for a while!