FW: Management (fwd)

[Mike Harrelson <mikeh@mindspring.com>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
A Japanese company and an American company decided to have a canoe race
on the Missouri river. Both the teams practiced hard and long 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 "Management Team" made up of senior management was formed. They
investigate and recommend appropriate action. Their conclusion was that
Japanese had 8 people rowing and 1 person steering, while the American team
had 8 persons steering and one person rowing. So American management hired a
consulting company and paid them an incredible amount of money. They were
advised that too many people were steering the boat and not enough people were
rowing.

To prevent losing to the Japanese again the 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 incentives 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
enrichment through this quality program."

The next year the Japanese won by two 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 distributed the money saved as bonuses to the
senior executives.