The Need to Maximize Productivity in the Housekeeping Department
Once upon a time, there was a donkey standing knee-deep in a field of carrots, contentedly munching away. The farmer wanted the donkey to pull a loaded cart, but the donkey would not walk over to it. The farmer stood by the cart and held a bunch of carrots for the donkey to see, but the donkey continued to munch away on the carrots in the field.
Once upon a time, the farmer had four donkeys and a barn full of carrots that she kept under lock and key. At the end of the day of car pulling, the farmer looked over the day's performance of each donkey. To one of the donkeys, she said, "You did an outstanding job; here are six carrots for you." To two of the others, she said, "Your performance was average; here are three carrots." To the last donkey, she said, "You didn't pull your share of the load; here is one carrot."
ASSIGNMENT: Pretend that the farmer in this case was the executive housekeeper of a large hotel. Why did she act this way? What would the top donkey, average-performing donkeys, and worst-performing donkey think before beginning work the following day? Compose a similar situation in a housekeeping setting where the above story can be applied.