Problem exists in management - only
Managers are hired to run a company or other organization. Classically, management is defined as getting results through other people.
If something goes wrong, top management is ALWAYS to blame. Either they did something wrong, or they neglected to do something necessary, or someone subordinate made those mistakes. In the latter case, responsibility lies with the manager who hired that person and/or told them what to do.
It's absurd and irresponsible to make changes, buy equipment, and hire people - then complain that things have not gone the way you expected. There is a strong similarity to the way things goes wrong when software is being specified. Mistakes are made, but the main source of problems is incompleteness. Often, most of the necessary requirements are never identified by the sponsor, because they have never thought the system through in sufficient detail.
That's why, when an experienced systems analyst finds the specification lacking or inconsistent, she often talks to the secretaries and other vital but under-valued and ignored staff. It turns out they take care of about half of the work when they meet at the water-cooler, or whatever; hence managers are blissfully unaware of those tasks.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
