GM to lay off 25,000 - Here's Why ------ "The Canoe Race"
To prevent losing to the Japanese again the next year, the American rowing teams management structure was totally reorganized into 4 steering supervisors, 3 area steering superintendents and 1 assistant superintendent steering manager. America's team 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".
The next year, the Japanese won by two miles. Humiliated American team 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. They then gave a "High Performance" award to the steering managers and distributed the money saved as bonuses to the senior executives.
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