The Indian and Japanese rowing teams hold an annual race. Last year, Japan won by 1 mile. In response, India hired consultants to analyze their team structure. The consultants determined India had too many captains and not enough rowers. They recommended restructuring the team to have fewer captains and improve the sole rower's environment. The next year, Japan still won but by a larger margin of 2 miles, so India replaced the rower. The consultants then analyzed that the strategy was sound but the tool (the boat) needed improvement, so India began designing a new boat.

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

3. India 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 Indian 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 Indian 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 Indian
team.

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