Grade School Track Meets Could Use Management Consulting

I attended a grade school track meet a few months ago to watch my son and daughter compete in several events. They both did my wife and I and their grandparents very proud. But as I stood out in the hot sun hour after hour watching the organizers get further and further behind schedule my (consulting) mind started to wander.

I noticed that the meet was being organized mostly by high school students with a few teachers lending a hand. I asked a few questions and learned that the students were senior physical education students who organize the event each year as part of their school curriculum.

And then a thought occurred to me. Why wasn't the school business club putting on the event. Or one of the business classes. If anyone should be learning about how to plan things, manage resources, create schedules, respond to off-schedule conditions, evaluate performance and communicating results it should be the students studying to go on to business school and then become business leaders themselves.

A business class would have noticed that communication of schedules was very poor. As was the communication of where competitors were supposed to meet before their events. It would not take even a novice business analyst very long to map out the process of conducting an event:

1) Assemble competitors
2) Give pre-event instructions
3) Line competitors up at the starting point or event location
4) Conduct the event while keeping track of individual performance
5) Compile the results
6) Post the results

I saw absolutely no consideration given to even the basic LEAN manufacturing principles. And the resulting "lost time" or Muda was everywhere.

I realize the jocks probably rule the school as they did in my day. And I can just imagine how difficult it would be for a business teacher trying to suggest to a phys ed teacher or principal that their class should have a chance to organize these events. But this is one parent (customer) who could do with a little less waiting and a little more cheering.

Thoughts?