Equality

"A Japanese company and an SA company challenged each other to a boat race. On the day of the race, the Japanese had a manager and eight rowers in their boat. The SA team included one senior manager, two assistant senior managers, three project leaders, one observer and two rowers. The Japanese won by 10 lengths and shared the prize equally. SA management demanded an explanation for this humiliation. After several meetings, the managers brought in outside consultants to help. They came up with a great plan for the next race - they bought a sleeker boat with wider oars and told the two rowers their performance must improve. This time the Japanese won by 15 lengths. The managers were rewarded for coming up with an excellent plan. The consultants were paid handsomely for their contribution. The rowers were fired. It was agreed that next year two outside rowers would do the rowing."

(Financial Mail - September 1996.)