Is this the True Defence Cost Study?

I found this news clipping at work today. I cut it out of one of our newsletters many years ago. I would like to say it doesn't sound familiar!!! Feel free to swap MoD for any other organisation you may think of...

The Boat Race

MoD and the Japanese decided to have a competitive boat race on the river Thames. Both teams practiced long and hard to reach their peak performance and on the big day they were as ready as they could be.

The Japanese won by a mile!

Afterwards the MoD team became very discouraged by the result and morale sagged. Senior Management decided that the reason for the crushing defeat had to be found and a special project team was set up to investigate the problem and recommend appropriate action.

Their conclusion: The problem was the Japanese had eight people rowing and one steering. MoD had one person rowing and eight people steering.

Senior Management immediately hired an expensive consultancy company to do a study of team structure. Millions of pounds and several months later, the consultancy company concluded that: Too many people were steering and not enough rowing.

To prevent losing to the Japanese again next year, a Regional Organisational Review was undertaken and the team structure was changed to 'Four Steering Managers'. 'Three Senior Steering Managers' and 'One Executive Steering Manager'. A new 'Quality Performance' system was set up for the person rowing the boat to give more incentive to work harder and become a 'Key Performer''.

"We must give him empowerment and enrichment. That ought to do it".

Next year the Japanese won by two miles.

MoD laid off the rower for poor performance, sold off the paddles, canceled all capital investment for new equipment, halted the development of a new canoe, awarded high performance awards to the consultants and distributed the money saved to Senior Management.