Norm will like this
Message #1 Posted by db(martinez,california) on 19 May 2004, 10:34 p.m.
I get funny email. A while back there were several threads on MBA's and managment types. Judging by the participation; there are a few here that will like this:
MBA's think this way.
So does 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 the race 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
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 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.
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