A Japanese company ( Toyota ) and an American company (Ford)
decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri River Both teams practiced
long and hard to reach their peak performance before the race.
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> On the big day, the Japanese won by a mile.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> Feeling a deeper study was in order, American management hired a
consulting company and paid them a large amount of money for a second opinion.
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> They advised, of course, that too many people were steering the boat,
while not enough people were rowing.
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> Not sure of how to utilize th at information, but wanting to prevent
another loss to the Japanese, the rowing team's management structure was
totally reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 3 area steering superintendents,
and 1 assistant superintendent steering manager.
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> 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.
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> The next year the Japanese won by two miles.
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> 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-sour ced to
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> Sadly, The End.
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> Here's something else to think about:
> Ford has spent the last thirty years moving all its factories out of the
US , claiming they can't make money paying American wages.
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> Ford folks are still scratching their heads.
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> IF THIS WEREN'T TRUE, IT MIGHT BE FUNNY.