Teamwork, the secret of success?
The Public Service and the Private Sector decided to have a boat race. On the big day the Private Sector won by a 1000 meters. The Public Service morale sagged.
The Ministerial Dept decided that the reason for the crushing defeat had to be found, so a consulting firm was hired to investigate the problem and recommend corrective action.
The consultants findings: The Private Sector team had eight people rowing and one person steering; the Public Service team had one person rowing and eight people steering.
After a year of study and millions spent analysing the problem, the Public Service team’s management structure was reorganised.
It featured a steering committee, four steering managers, three area steering managers, and a new performance review system for the person rowing the boat to provide work incentive.
Next year, the Private Sector won by 2000 meters.
Humiliated, the Public Service sacked the rower for poor performance and gave the managers a bonus for discovering the problem.
