German inefficiencies
There is the myth of German efficiency built over time. And I experienced it firsthand on their Bahn network over the last few days. The S-Bahn (regional rail) and U-Bahn (underground) had persistent delays and cancellations. My morning commute to the conference I was attending was delayed 30 minutes due to my delayed subway train and the fact that I missed the connecting tram.
I don’t mean there are not some quality German products. There are. But not something one applies to everything generically. So the efficiency answer is like - it depends. This is in contrast to the Japanese where recently the CEO of the Bullet train service apologized for one of their trains leaving early by 20 seconds and a few passengers missed boarding. Their efficiency means punctuality. On time. Period. No exceptions.
Quality matters. And it is often when someone wants it so bad that it develops with hard work to be consistent over time.
Sources:
German efficiency: The roots of a stereotype - https://www.dw.com/en/german-efficiency-the-roots-of-a-stereotype/a-56976234
Why people think Germans are so efficient - https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20170903-why-people-think-germans-are-so-efficient
Apology after Japanese train departs 20 seconds early - https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-42009839
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