A Japanese company and an Australian government corporation decided to have a canoe race on Lake Burley Griffen. Both teams practiced long and hard to reach their peak performance before the race.

On the big day, the Japanese won by almost 1.5km! The Australian government corporation team was very despondent and depressed and decided to hold an investigation into their performance.

An investigation team, comprising of senior management and external consultants was formed to investigate and report appropriate actions. Their conclusion was that the Japanese team had 8 people rowing, with 1 person steering. The Australian team had 8 people steering and 1 person rowing.

To prevent another loss to the Japanese, the Australian rowing team was completely restructured, with 4 steering supervisors, 3 area steering supervisors and 1 person rowing. They also added incentives for the rower to work harder.

It was called the “Rowing Team Quality First Program”, with free dinners, trips, and free pens for the rower. They discussed getting new oars, designed a better canoe, and other improved equipment, extra holidays, and training incentives for the rower.

The following year, the Japanese won almost by 2.5km. Humiliated, the Australian management team sacked the rower for poor performance, stopped development of the new canoe, sold all the paddles and oars, cancelled all investment programs for new equipment, The money saved was paid to the management team as bonuses, and the next year’s racing team was outsourced to India.