Definitely the case, people don't realize how much a weak link in the chain can break the whole structure, and just how much influence the command structure can

Definitely the case, people don't realize how much a weak link in the chain can break the whole structure, and just how much influence the command structure can have. I've worked places where all my peers were very smart and well-qualified and still ended up outputting what boils down to smart trash because a middle manager somewhere refused to allow them to structure things well. Conway's Law isn't dependent on the group's collective IQ. A little sensitive on this due to a recent experience where I was hired and given "ownership" only to have my very modest proposals for changes shot down if not just entirely ignored. Some "ownership"!