"When art critics get together they talk about Form and Structure and Meaning. When artists get together they talk about where you can buy cheap turpentine." -

"When art critics get together they talk about Form and Structure and Meaning. When artists get together they talk about where you can buy cheap turpentine." - Picasso, supposedly Talking about this stuff is only natural. As for the rest of the OP, not knocking it (or the book), but it sounds like he just read Catcher in the Rye or something. Employees have been jockeying for status inside firms and across firms as long as there have been employees and firms.