At large companies like this there will always be politics you need to play to get ahead. It sucks but that's the way it is. The meritocratic ideal will remain

At large companies like this there will always be politics you need to play to get ahead. It sucks but that's the way it is. The meritocratic ideal will remain an ideal unless you're in there on the ground floor. There's a lot of books out there on corporate and office politics. Might be a good idea to read at least one.