A MODERN PARABLE

A Japanese company (Toyota) and an American company (Ford) 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. 

Feeling a deeper study was in order, American management hired a consulting  company and paid them a large amount of money for a second opinion.

They advised, of  course, that too many people were steering the canoe while

not enough people were rowing. 

Not sure of how to utilize that information, but wanting 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 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.

Sadly, The   End.   

Here's something else   to think about: 

Ford has spent the   last thirty years moving all its factories out of   the 

US, claiming they   can't make money paying American wages.

TOYOTA has spent the   last thirty years building more than a dozen   plants 

inside the US .

The last quarter's results: 

TOYOTA makes 4   billion in profits while Ford racked up 9 billion in   losses.

Ford folks are still   scratching their heads.

IF THIS   WEREN'T TRUE, IT MIGHT BE   FUNNY.............................