The French rowing team lost to the Japanese team by 1 mile. An analysis found the French team had 7 captains but only 1 rower, while the Japanese had 7 rowers and 1 captain. Consultants were hired and recommended restructuring the French team to have fewer captains and more rowers. The next year, the Japanese won by 2 miles and the French rower was replaced, while management received bonuses for their motivation.

2. Once upon a time there was a French rowing team

3. France and Japan agreed to do an annual rowing race.
Each team should contain 8 men.

4. Both teams worked really hard to get in the best shape. The
day the race started both teams were in similar condition.
....the Japanese won by 1 mile.

5. FINISH

6. The mood in the French team was really close to the freeze point. The
top management decided to win the race next year. So they established
a team of analysts to observe the situation and recommend an
appropriate solution.

8. After several detailed analysis the team found out that Japanese
had 7 rowers and only one captain.

10. Of course the French team had 7 captains but only one rower.

12. Facing such critical scenario the management showed an unexpected
wisdom: they hired the consulting company to restructure the French
team.

14. After several months the consultants came up
with the conclusion that there were too many
captains and too few rowers in the French team. A
solution was proposed based on this analysis: the
structure of the French team has to be changed!

15. As of today there will be only 4 captains in the team led by 2
managers, one top-manager and one rower. Besides that, they
suggested to improve the rower’s working environment and to give
him higher competencies.

17. Next year the Japanese won by 2 miles.

18. FINISH

19. The French team immediatelly displaced the rower from the
team based on his unsatisfactory performance.

20. But the bonus award was paid to the management
for the strong motivation the the team showed
during the preparation phase.

21. The consulting company prepared a
new analysis, which showed that the
strategy was good, the motivation was
O.K. but the used tool has to be
improved.
Performed by ROCE

22. Currently the French team is designing a new boat.