Ford vs. Toyota

[Aerophile]

I found this on another pilot forum. It's quite funny but sadly has some truth to it.


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 committee 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 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, 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 called the 'Rowing Team Quality First Program,' with meetings, dinners and free pens and a certificate of completion 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 (a reduction in workforce) for poor performance, halted development of a new canoe, sold the paddles, and cancelled 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.

[eno]

So true  ;D

[spitfire boy]

Whereas the Brits would take 5 years making our own canoes from twigs found in scottish woodlands, and then on the big day we'd win, but only because we have quite good rowers. Point is, while Americans commit overkill in management structure, we commit overkill in assessing workload needed.

"Couldn't we just buy a canoe?"
"Ooooh, no no no no no, that would be far too easy. Plus its exactly what they'd expect...."

Oh yeah, did I mention we're paranoid?

[dcunning30]

Don't forget Leon, United Rowers of America local 223.