[Rhodes22-list] Fwd: The American Way

[L. Sailor]

Received this from a friend. I figured half of the
list will agree & the other half will become incensed.

;^)

elle


> > Subject:  The American Way
> > 
> > A Japanese company (Toyota) and an American
> company
> > (General Motors) decided 
> > to have a canoe race.
> > 
> > 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 
> > management was 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 8 people steering and
> 1
> > person rowing.
> > 
> > So American management hired a consulting company
> > and paid them a large 
> > amount of money for a second opinion. They advised
> > that too many people were 
> > steering the boat, while not enough people were
> > rowing.
> > 
> > To prevent another loss to the Japanese, the
> rowing
> > team's management 
> > structure was totally reorganized to 4 steering
> > supervisors, 3 area steering 
> > superintendents, 1 assistant superintendent
> steering
> > manager and 1 rower. 
> > 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. There was discussion of getting new
> paddles,
> > canoes and other 
> > equipment, extra vacation days for practices and
> > bonuses.
> > 
> > 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 as bonuses and the next
> year's
> > racing team was 
> > out-sourced to India.
> > 
> > The End.
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
> HSA 8
> You don't get much--but it's free!
> 
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