Corporate America...


Americans and the Japanese decided to engage in a competitive crew
race. Both teams practiced hard and long to reach their peak
performance. On the big day they felt ready. The Japanese won by a mile.

The American team was discouraged by the loss. Morale sagged. Corporate
management decided that the reason for the crushing defeat had to be
found, so a consulting firm was hired to investigate the problem and
recommend corrective action. The consultant's finding: The Japanese team
had 8 people rowing and one person steering. The American team had one
person rowing and 8 people steering.

After a year of study and millions spent analyzing the problem, the
consulting firm concluded that too many people were steering and not
enough were rowing on the American team.

As race day neared again the following year, the American team's
management structure was completely reorganized. The new structure: Four
steering managers, 3 area steering managers, and a new performance
review system for the person rowing the boat to provide work
incentive. At this race, the Japanese won by two miles.

Humiliated, the American corporation laid off the rower for poor
performance and gave the managers a bonus for discovering the problem.