Can you hear the music ?? |
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Total Quality Canoeing
A Japanese company and a California company decided to have a canoe race on
the Columbia 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 California team became very discouraged and depressed. The
management of the California company decided that the reason for the
crushing defeat had to be found. A "Measurement Team," made up of senior
management was formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action.
Their conclusion was that the Japanese had 8 people rowing and 1 person
steering, while the Californians had 1 person rowing and 8 people steering.
So the management of the California company 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 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. "We must give the rower empowerment and
enrichment through this quality program."
The next year the Japanese won by 2 miles. Humiliated, the management of
California company 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 used the money saved by giving
a High Performance Award to the steering managers and distributed the rest
of the money as bonuses to the senior executives.
Submitted by : Ritholtz @ aol.com
Source : Oracle Service Humor Mailing List, April 23 - 1998
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