American Management
A Japanese company and an American company decided to have a canoe
race on the Missouri river.
Both 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 "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
superintendents 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.
Nothing but Jokes by
Nauman Faridi
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