A Modern Parable

[BruceBowker]

A Modern Parable.

 

A Japanese company ( Toyota ) and an American company (Ford 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 7 people steering and 2 people 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

boat, 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, 2 > area steering superintendents and 1 assistant superintendent steering manager.

 

They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 2

people 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 rowers. There was

discussion of getting new paddles, canoes and other equipment, extra vacation days for

practices and bonuses. The pension program was trimmed to 'equal the competition' and some

of the resultant savings were channeled into morale boosting programs and teamwork

posters.

 

The next year the Japanese won by two miles. Humiliated, the American management laid-off one rower , halted development of a new canoe, sold all the paddles, and cancelled all capital investments

for new equipment. The money saved was distributed to the Senior Executives as bonuses.

 

The next year, try as he might, the lone designated rower was unable to even finish the race (having

no paddles,) so he was laid off for unacceptable performance, all canoe equipment was sold 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, and collecting

bonuses...

IF THIS WEREN'T SO TRUE IT MIGHT BE FUNNY

[BusaNostra]

....management issue? ---> I doubt it.

it's all about ENGINEERING.

 

Ford & GM can tell me they have echelon management but has sucky cars,

where do you think I will spend my hard earned money?

[Boxologist]

Toyota is making 3 billion in losses for '08 and '09. but the sentiment is close to the mark. Ford does seem to be turning it around.