The Arabian rowing team lost to Japan by 1 mile in their annual race. To improve, they analyzed the Japanese team and found they had 7 rowers and 1 captain, while the Arabian team had 7 captains and 1 rower. The Arabian team then hired consultants who recommended restructuring to have 4 captains, 2 managers, and 1 rower, as well as improving the rower's environment. However, after losing by 2 miles the next year, they fired the rower but paid bonuses to management for their motivation, while the consultants found the strategy was good but the tool (the rower) needed improvement.

2. Once upon a time there was an Arabian rowing team

3. Arabian team 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 Arabian 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.
7

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

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

14. After several months the consultants came up with
the conclusion that there were too many captains
and too few rowers in the Arabian team. A solution
was proposed based on this analysis: the structure
of the Arabian 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.
4

17. Next year the Japanese won by 2 miles.
2

18. FINISH

19. The Arabian 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 Arabian team is designing a new
boat.