A Modern Parable

[Big Shed]

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 channelled 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

[46150]

Fred,sad but true.Remember that this scenario doesnt only belong to the automotive industry...............AL

[jow104]

I think the American stance is that they are expanding their service industry.

As you know that is happening elsewhere.

[joe greiner]

As the late David Brinkley said, "Soon our 'service' industry will be reduced to doing each others' laundry."

Joe

[artme]

I will bet Sol Trujillo was on the team of consultant for each review!!

[rrich]

As the late David Brinkley said, "Soon our 'service' industry will be reduced to doing each others' laundry."

You're much too kind!

[46150]

............CEO of Ford comes bouncing out today on a radio interview...."and if the Congress decides to inject the monies we asked for,I will be prepared to work for $1 a year".........................the clown fails to say that he earnt $23 million in the previous 12 months.............AL

[Big Shed]

............CEO of Ford comes bouncing out today on a radio interview...."and if the Congress decides to inject the monies we asked for,I will be prepared to work for $1 a year".........................the clown fails to say that he earnt $23 million in the previous 12 months.............AL

.....and he will be selling the corporate jet!

And the CEO of GM is driving from Detroit to Washington in an electric car.

These guys are seriously out of touch with reality, the sad part is that if these companies go under, it isn't them that will suffer but their workers and their families.