For all of you who frequent restaurants and understand the need for the >>>> service to be faster, this short story is a timeless lesson on how >>>> consultants can make a difference to an organization. >>>> >>>> Last week, we took some friends out to a new restaurant and noticed >>>> that the waiter who took our order carried a spoon in his shirt pocket. >>>> It seemed a little strange. >>>> >>>> When another waiter brought our water, I noticed he also had a spoon in >>>> his shirt pocket. >>>> >>>> Then I looked around and saw that all the staff had spoons in their >>>> pockets. >>>> >>>> When the waiter came back to serve our soup I asked, "Why the spoon?" >>>> >>>> "Well", he explained, "the restaurant's owners hired Anderson >>>> Consulting to revamp all our processes. After several months of >>>> analysis, they concluded that the spoon was the most frequently dropped >>>> utensil. It represents a drop frequency of approximately 3 spoons per >>>> table per hour. If our personnel are >>>> better prepared, we can reduce the number of >>>> trips back to the kitchen and save 15 man-hours per shift." >>>> >>>> As luck would have it, I dropped my spoon and he was able to replace it >>>> with his spare. "I'll get another spoon next time! I go to the kitchen, >>>> instead of making an extra trip to get it right now." >>>> >>>> I was impressed. I also noticed that there was a string hanging out of >>>> the waiter's fly. >>>> >>>> Looking around, I noticed that all the waiters had the same string >>>> hanging from their flies. So before he walked off, I asked the waiter, >>>> >>>> "Excuse me, but can you tell me why you have that string right there?" >>>> >>>> "Oh, certainly!" Then he lowered his voice. >>>> >>>> "Not everyone is so observant. That consulting firm I mentioned also >>>> found out that we can save time in th e restroom. By tying this string >>>> to the tip of you know what, we can pull it out without touching it and >>>> eliminate the need to wash our hands, shortening the time spent in the >>>> restroom by 76.39 percent. >>>> >>>> I asked "After you get it out, how do you put it back?" >>>> >>>> "Well," he whispered, "I don't know about the others, but I use the >>>> spoon.". --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum
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