deuces wild Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 The Canoe Race: A Modern ParableA Japanese company (Toyota) and an American company (General Motors) decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri River. 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 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. 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 All this sounds depressingly familiar. The General Motors team has been substituted by the British Government. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thos Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 All this sounds depressingly familiar. The General Motors team has been substituted by the British Government.You sound a really miserable old codger here. Why not just enjoy the satire.Thos. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 I am enjoying it, I just could not help making an obvious comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 I saw a film once upon a time - called "The Sunshine Boys" - starring George Burns and Walter Matthau as a couple of old codgers who just could not get on with one another and bickered all the time.Thos and andsome are making a fine job of the remake :lol: :lol: ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thos Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 I saw a film once upon a time - called "The Sunshine Boys" - starring George Burns and Walter Matthau as a couple of old codgers who just could not get on with one another and bickered all the time.Thos and andsome are making a fine job of the remake :lol: :lol: ;)I remember that, but the trouble is they really liked each other!!!Thos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 I still haven't been paid, I don't know about Thos. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadyassa Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Despite what he says, he loves me really. He just can't get his head round the fact that so many on here can see through B'liar. :D :D :D :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deuces wild Posted May 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Let's get this back on topic folks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thos Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Despite what he says, he loves me really. He just can't get his head round the fact that so many on here can see through B'liar. :D :D :D :DI can't get my head round you thinking I love you really, in spite of your good looks and abilities on the crown green. :D Let's get this back on topic folks.Yes, sir.Thos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 I can't get my head round you thinking I love you really, in spite of your good looks and abilities on the crown green. :D Thos.I won on Sunday. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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