So I think your points 1 & 2 apply whether stack ranking is implemented or not. Either way, the direct managers decide who to fire, not an executive. The diff

So I think your points 1 & 2 apply whether stack ranking is implemented or not. Either way, the direct managers decide who to fire, not an executive. The difference stack ranking makes is not who to fire, but whether anyone is going to be fired. In theory, the manager is on the chopping block. But in reality, success is difficult to measure in business. Often the contributions of orgs are subtle and difficult to measure. The effects are often only apparent years later, if ever.