It would be funny if it wasn't true.......

[singpilot]

Toyota, a Japanese company and GM, an American company 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.

Afterward, the American team became very discouraged and morally depressed.
The American management decided the reason for the crushing defeat had to be
found. A Management Team made up of senior management was formed to
investigate and recommend appropriate action.

Their conclusion was the Japanese had eight people rowing and one person
steering, while the American team had eight people steering and one person
rowing. So American management hired a consulting company and paid them an
incredible amount of money.

After six months of hard work, they advised that too many people were
steering the boat, while not enough people were rowing. So the American Team
acted: To prevent losing to the Japanese again next year, the rowing team's
management structure was totally reorganized to four steering supervisors,
three 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 for the
rower. Even new paddles and medical benefit incentives were promised for a
winner. "We must give the rower the empowerment and enrichments through this
quality program."

The next year the Japanese won by two miles. Humiliated, the American
management laid off the rower for poor performance, halted development of a
new canoe, sold the paddles and canceled all capital investments for new
equipment.


The money saved was distributed to the senior executives in appreciation for
a job well done.

[yellowline]

Or maybe the spectators (the average American sheep) all rooted for the Japanese and against the Americans.

No mention of them, of course they're faultless.

If the French and Italians can buy their own cars, we can buy our own.

[Paul T]

That's great! So, so true....that sounds like every bloated bureaucracy I've ever worked for, including where I am now. I need a new job...

[mikester]

capitalism strikes again...gawd damn that free market.

[notfarnow]

Originally posted by singpilot
... So American management hired a consulting company and paid them an
incredible amount of money.

After six months of hard work, they advised that too many people were
steering the boat, while not enough people were rowing...

The problem is obvious. They should have hired another consultant to verify the first consultant's work.

[Joeaksa]

Just noticed that yesterday Ford Motor Company banned all competitors cars from parking in its parking lots. That means that if anyone buys any non-Ford car that they have to park out in the boonies and walk forever to get to the building.

This is really a good method to build morale and teamwork....

I have not owned an American car for years and as long as they continue in this mode, it will not happen anytime soon either...

Joe A

http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/27/news/companies/ford_parkinglot/index.htm?section=money_latest

[red-beard]

Hmmmm. This isn't new. Henry Ford did the same in the 20's, except he fired those driving competative products...

[singpilot]

So the people who have been working, designing and building at Ford were the people who were forced to buy and drive their own product in order to keep their job?

Yeah, that worked.

[tcar]

Originally posted by singpilot
So the people who have been working, designing and building at Ford were the people who were forced to buy and drive their own product in order to keep their job?

No, not true, not even close.

And you can park Mazda, Volvo, Land Rover, Jag in the close lot.

You park across the street with anything else.

And this is not new, and it is mostly the Union that started this, not Ford.

[KevinP73]

Originally posted by notfarnow
The problem is obvious. They should have hired another consultant to verify the first consultant's work.

I'd have expected techweenie to say something like that.

[singpilot]

Actually, Kev, Tech is right this moment researching a perfectly plausible, yet sensible approach to resolve all of Detroits' problems which he will post here shortly.

It involves small German cars.

[yellowline]

Originally posted by tcar

And you can park Mazda, Volvo, Land Rover, Jag in the close lot.
You park across the street with anything else.

Aston Martin?

Hey, they are getting paid enough...

[legion]

Originally posted by singpilot
Actually, Kev, Tech is right this moment researching a perfectly plausible, yet sensible approach to resolve all of Detroits' problems which he will post here shortly.

It involves small German cars.

Yes, if only we had a small, simple car for the masses...

[ubiquity0]

Originally posted by yellowline

If the French and Italians can buy their own cars, we can buy our own.

1983 Porsche 944

LOL

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by tcar
No, not true, not even close.

And you can park Mazda, Volvo, Land Rover, Jag in the close lot.

You park across the street with anything else.

And this is not new, and it is mostly the Union that started this, not Ford.

All the press reports do not agree with the above. What do you know that we do not? Serious question and wonder if the news reports are correct or not.

Joe

[KevinP73]

Originally posted by singpilot
Actually, Kev, Tech is right this moment researching a perfectly plausible, yet sensible approach to resolve all of Detroits' problems which he will post here shortly.

It involves small German cars.

More likely it involves Bush being strung up then tarred and feathered!

[yellowline]

Yes, ubiquity0, I own a 20 year old Porsche. I didn't buy new. It's my only car. It didn't hurt Ford, DCX, or GM 1 penny. I do my own work on my car, so the dealers wouldn't profit much by me owning a secondhand American car, either.

Buy a used foreign car and you won't hear a word from me.

[cstreit]

Originally posted by Joeaksa
Just noticed that yesterday Ford Motor Company banned all competitors cars from parking in its parking lots. That means that if anyone buys any non-Ford car that they have to park out in the boonies and walk forever to get to the building.

In general most people do this already... Keeps the long key marks off the side of your non ford (GM,etc..) car.

[tdatk]

It would be funny if it wasn't true.......

[ianc]

Or maybe the spectators (the average American sheep) all rooted for the Japanese and against the Americans.

No mention of them, of course they're faultless.

If the French and Italians can buy their own cars, we can buy our own.

Wrong. It's attitudes like this that are responsible for our *****ty quality. If we made a decent quality product to begin with, there wouldn't be an issue. Does Ford think that requiring their employees to drive Fords or park elsewhere will somehow magically solve their quality problem? Right. If the product you're making (which you didn't design or approve) sucks, you should not be required to be a second class citizen at your job simply because you're too smart to buy it.

Screw Ford,

ianc