Globalization

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> A Japanese company and an American company decided to have a canoe

> race. Both teams practiced hard and long to reach their peak

> performance before

the race.

> On the big day the Japanese won by a mile.

>

> Afterward, the American team became very discouraged and morally

depressed.

> The American management decided the reason for the crushing defeat

> had to be found. A "Management Team" made up of senior management

> was formed to investigate and recommend what appropriate action

> should be taken. Their conclusion was the Japanese had 8 people

> rowing and 1 person steering, while the American team had 8 persons

> steering and one person rowing.

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> So American management hired a consulting company and paid them an

> incredible amount of money. They advised that too many people were

> steering the boat, while not enough people were rowing.

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> 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.

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> It was called the "Rowing Team Quality First Program," with

> meetings, dinners and free pens for the rower. "We must give the

> rower the empowerment and enrichments through this quality program.".

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> 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.

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> Then they distributed the money they saved as bonuses to the senior

executives.

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> The final step, of course, was that the American company reported to

> its shareholders that they were proud to have finished second in an

> international canoe race, and that their Japanese rivals finished

> next-to-last.

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> No matter how cynical I get, it's never enough.

>

> Dave Jordan

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