I'm feeling like this sort of says it all for American companies these days...

"A Japanese company and an American company decided to have a canoe race
on the Missouri River. Both the teams practiced hard and long 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 8 people rowing and 1 person
steering, while the American team had 8 persons steering and one person
rowing.

So American management hired a consulting company and paid them an
incredible amount of money. They advised that too many people were
steering the boat, while not enough people were rowing.

To prevent losing to the Japanese again next year, 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 for the rower. "We must give the rower the empowerment and
enrichments through this quality program."

The next year the Japanese won by two miles. Humiliated, 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.

Then they distributed the money saved as bonuses to the senior
executives. "