The Spoon

[gypsygrace]

A lesson on how consultants can make a difference in an organization

Last week, we took some friends to a new restaurant, 'Steve's

Place,' and noticed that the waiter who took our order carried a spoon in

his shirt pocket.

It seemed a little strange. When the busboy brought our water

and utensils, I observed that 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 inquired,

'Why the spoon?'

'Well, 'he explained, 'the restaurant's owner hired Andersen

Consulting to revamp all of 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 replaced 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 saw that all of 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 learned that we can

save time in the restroom.

By tying this string to the tip of our 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%.'

I asked quietly, '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.'

[Popeye]

OK gypsygrace, that was a real good one.

Kind of makes someone wonder what really happens in the restaurants!

[gypsygrace]

That's no joke.

I very rarely eat out. That just reinforces my behavior.

[ShyWriter]

That's no joke.

I very rarely eat out. That just reinforces my behavior.

:) :)

Steve's Place, huh??

Well; that secret's out now.. Pretty soon EVERYONE will want a string and spoon. Hmmmmmm... I'm very happy you didn't tell them about the towel on their arms and handkerchiefs.. We has to keep SOME of our in-house secrets.

HEY WAYNE!!! I think I just found us another business venture to go along with the "LapCooler

[gypsygrace]

Steve's Place, huh??

Well; that secret's out now.. Pretty soon EVERYONE will want a string and spoon. Hmmmmmm... I'm very happy you didn't tell them about the towel on their arms and handkerchiefs.. We has to keep SOME of our in-house secrets.

HEY WAYNE!!! I think I just found us another business venture to go along with the "LapCooler

[Traveler]

oops...I did it again?

i didn't know it was a secret

I'll keep that little secret to ourselves.

Your welcome!

Goodnight Gracie.

[DarkSnakeKobra]

I don't know about you guys, but I'm telling everyone!