AH- AMERICAN BUSINESS AT IT'S BEST.

Toyota, a Japanese company and GM, an American company
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.

Afterward, the American team became very discouraged and morally depressed.
The American management decided the reason for the crushing defeat had to
be found. A Management Team made up of senior management was formed to
investigate and recommend appropriate action.

Their conclusion was the Japanese had eight people rowing
and one person steering, while the American team had eight people steering
and one person rowing. So American management hired a consulting company
and paid them an incredible amount of money.

After six months of hard work, they advised that too many people were
steering the boat, wh ile not enough people were rowing. So the American
Team acted: To prevent losing to the Japanese again next year, the rowing
team's management structure was totally reorganized to four steering
supervisors, three 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. Even new paddles and medical benefit incentives
were promised for a winner. "We must give the rower the empowerment and
enrichments 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.

The money saved was distributed to the senior executives in appreciation
for a job well done.

 

I believe every word.