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Turtle and the hare
The Americans and the Japanese decided to engage in a competitive
rowing race. Both teams practiced hard and long to reach their peak
performance. On the big day they both felt ready.
The Japanese won by a mile!
Afterward, the American team was discouraged by the loss. Morale
sagged. Corporate management decided that the reason for the
crushing defeat had to be found, so a consulting firm was hired to
investigate the problem and recommend corrective action.
The consultants' finding: The Japanese team had eight people rowing
and one person steering; the American team had one person rowing
(Working) and eight people steering (Freeloading ).
After a year of study and millions spent analyzing the problem, the
consulting firm concluded that too many were steering and not enough
were rowing on the American team. (i.e., US Government !!!)
So, as race day neared again the following year, the American team's
structure was complete reorganized. The new structure: four steering
managers, three area steering managers, one staff steering manager
and a new performance review system for the person rowing the boat
to provide work incentive.
This year, the Japanese won by TWO miles.
Humiliated, the American corporation laid off the rower for poor
performance and gave the managers a bonus for discovering the
problem.
The following year the American team bought a new "off the shelf"
racing team. One top American manager was recently heard stating
that "racing wasn't part of our core competencies, so we brought in
contractors to help us compete in a world wide market/race ".
After many months of deliberation, and the race fast approaching,
the new staff reorganization quickly became . . . four steering
managers, three area steering managers, one staff steering manager
and now one project steering leader to oversee the racing
contractors. Plus, of course, the 8 additional racing contractors
who will actually compete in the race, but they don't really count
in Corporate America . . . .
This year, the Japanese won by default, the American racing team
sunk three minutes into the race. A top American manager was
overheard stating "I don't understand, they said we could just plug
'em in, that they could race in any boat".
Although it's early in the planning for next year's race, rumor has
it the Americans are buying a new boat that is more compatible with
the vendor's system of racing expertise. A new boat acquisitions
manager was hired to work on the details.
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