Demonstrating competence requires the ability to discuss and explain decisions. Otherwise someone's actions are indistinguishable from them following a simple f

Demonstrating competence requires the ability to discuss and explain decisions. Otherwise someone's actions are indistinguishable from them following a simple flowchart or even a broken clock. So I'd say that arrogance is essentially directly opposed to competence. This however doesn't stop many people (techies included) from using arrogance or other bullshittery as a substitute for demonstrating competence, which seemingly fools enough people due to the authoritarian dynamic described in the original post.