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

The Japanese won by a mile!

Afterward, 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 consultants' finding: The Japanese team had eight people rowing and one person steering; the American team had one person rowing (Working) and eight people steering (Freeloading ).

After a year of study and millions spent analyzing the problem, the consulting firm concluded that too many were steering and not enough were rowing on the American team. (i.e., US Government !!!)

So, as race day neared again the following year, the American team's structure was complete reorganized. The new structure: four steering managers, three area steering managers, one staff steering manager and a new performance review system for the person rowing the boat to provide work incentive.

This year, 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.

The following year the American team bought a new "off the shelf" racing team. One top American manager was recently heard stating that "racing wasn't part of our core competencies, so we brought in contractors to help us compete in a world wide market/race ".

After many months of deliberation, and the race fast approaching, the new staff reorganization quickly became . . . four steering managers, three area steering managers, one staff steering manager and now one project steering leader to oversee the racing contractors. Plus, of course, the 8 additional racing contractors who will actually compete in the race, but they don't really count in Corporate America . . . .

This year, the Japanese won by default, the American racing team sunk three minutes into the race. A top American manager was overheard stating "I don't understand, they said we could just plug 'em in, that they could race in any boat".

Although it's early in the planning for next year's race, rumor has it the Americans are buying a new boat that is more compatible with the vendor's system of racing expertise. A new boat acquisitions manager was hired to work on the details.

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