Not in every hierarchical organization. For example, a ship’s captain takes ultimate responsibility for any collision or sinking, whether or not they were actu

Not in every hierarchical organization. For example, a ship’s captain takes ultimate responsibility for any collision or sinking, whether or not they were actually steering the ship. There was a tradition of the captain being the last one to leave a sinking ship. Many cultures had a tradition of executing commanders that suffered defeat. I think our culture is an anomaly where blame does not flow uphill as well.