Ever heard of
Kentucky windage?
I believe that is what is wrong with every single private and government system we have in place or ever will put in place...unless we learn how to work with it.
Allow me to explain.
In basic combat training there comes a time when we are trained to shoot a rifle. One of the first things we must do is
zero the sites in.
The army dedicates one full week to training soldiers how to fire their weapon. It is a basic function. The program has been tried and found true...if you follow the directions.
One of the biggest obstacles to teaching basic marksmanship is breaking people from using Kentucky windage when zeroing their rifles. It comes down to the individual soldier in training to hit their target but ultimately they are expected to use Army standards.
The program and techniques were developed by highly skilled and educated people who understand the mechanics of the weapon and the geometry of the round going down range.
In theory, every soldier should be able to hit 40 out of 40 targets if they use the prescribed method...but they don't use the prescribed method and they don't hit 40 out of 40 targets. Why?
It is impossible for the average soldier to hold the weapon in the exact same place every single time they pull the trigger. As a result, they use Kentucky windage to try to adjust their aim instead of trusting the equations calculated by egg heads they have never met.
Now, let look at the school system for example. There is a prescribed method ,calculated by egg heads you have never met, for the best method of teaching children the basic skills they need to get a job or attend college.
It is impossible for every teacher to implement the prescribed method exactly as it is prescribed. So they adjust because they are expected to show results. They teach to the test. They short cut the system instead of working within it to improve their results. Why?
They need their jobs.
So, it is impossible for the egg heads who tally the results to get an accurate reading of how well the program is working because everyone responsible for delivering said results are gaming the system, which produces a false positive. Think about that when you look at our education system compared to other countries.
Here is another way to think about it.
All major chain restaurants have a very precise policy for preparing their menu items. In theory every item should be prepared using the exact same measurements of ingredients and cooking temperatures every time. This allows for better food cost controls and a better customer experience. Does no good to go to Applebee's on Monday and order a bourbon stake that is absolutely fabulous only to go back on Friday and have a bourbon stake that is shit because a different cook was working.
The Applebee's method for cooking a Cowboy Burger is this
1. Slide hand into Burger Bag(plastic baggie)
2. Pick up the ground beef with the bagged hand.
3. Place the ground beef onto the cooking surface
4. Remove patty paper with the bagged hand if applicable.
5. Immediately discard bag.
6. Use three waves of the grill seasoning shaker to season the top side of the patty.
They use a metal dome to cover the patty once place on the grill. This dome can not be touched by hands or any utensils that may have come into contact with any other raw food.
Cook for about 3 1/2 to 4 minutes then remove the dome with a sterile utensil and flip the patty over
7. Wave the blackened seasoning shaker over the patty 5 times AND add an additional 3 waves of grill seasoning.
8. Add 1/4 cup of shredded white cheddar and bacon (in that order)
9. At this time cook crispy onion topper (this item is prepared by another cook at another station)
10. At this same time place the burger bun on the flat top with 1/4 0z butter to toast.
11. cook for approximately 3 1/2 to 4 minutes. If cheese is not melted you may place into broiler to finish it off.
12. place bun bottom on right side of round plate and spread 2 Tbsp of Southern BBQ sauce around the edge in a circle. Do the same for the top bun.
There are a few other steps for proper presentation but you get the gist.
The patty must be at least 158
0F when finished...because of public fear of pink meat most people want their burgers well done...so...178
0F
Which takes longer to cook.
Applebee's uses a computer system designed to optimize customer experience with fresh hot food so if there is a well done steak on that order along with the Cowboy Burger, the steak shows up on the screen first and the burger shows up a few minutes later.
Applebee's expects all food to be on the customers table within 12 minutes of the customer placing their order. So by the time the waiter writes it all down, punches it all in at the computer, system organizes everything and sends menu items to appropriate cook stations it could be 8 minutes before the hamburger even shows up on the screen for the Mid cook to see.
If he is really busy he might not see that Cowboy burger for nearly two minutes. So by the time he puts the patty on the grill the customer has already waited anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes. It takes at least 10 minutes to cook a 7oz patty to 178
0 So now the managers are screaming for the order. No pressure...can't serve an under cooked burger...it's illegal. If you press the burger down or flatten it so it will cook faster you get yelled at because that is not SOP.
Not supposed to precook any food because that is wasteful if you misjudge and also creates dried out overcooked food...so no go there.
The expectation is impossible to meet. The customer has to have their food hot, fresh and on time so you simply must use Kentucky windage to get that burger cooked. Can't use the standard procedure in the middle of a rush when you have 15 other burgers on your grill.
If you do not cut corners and do the cooking by the book you will never have your food out on time. If you run too many long ticket times you get fired.
You gotta flatten that burger and keep it covered the whole time...maybe even microwave that bitch to get it up to temp. Don't let the managers see you do it.
So the big wigs at corporate go on thinking that their prescribed standard operating procedures are working and have no idea what it feels like to have to be the one to implement their diabolical plans.
Don't rock the boat, don't ask questions, just use Kentucky windage and pretend like you know what you are doing or you will likely be out of work...and that is not a great place to be in this economy.