> All these are counter-productive for a company... In my experience, companies that deathmarch can't see past the current deadline: "We'll deal with the reper

> All these are counter-productive for a company... In my experience, companies that deathmarch can't see past the current deadline: "We'll deal with the repercussions of this action later, we need results now". Which, yes, is counter productive in the long term, but they don't care: the long term isn't even on their radar. Be this because middle management promised the impossible to upper management (through foolishness, incompetence, or ego), or because upper management needs to ship PRODUCT X to meet quarterly stock market projections (again: maximize shareholder equity): the focus is on the current deadline. As long as the company meets that goal, everything is OK (even if - in the process of meeting that goal - they set up smoldering fires that will need attention in the medium term).