> the company seems to be rotting from the head down A strange metaphor that is more fiction than fact (as most cliches are). I couldn't find an academic paper

> the company seems to be rotting from the head down A strange metaphor that is more fiction than fact (as most cliches are). I couldn't find an academic paper on the topic but did find an article that said "putrefactive processes occur in the intestines, that is, in the section of the fish carcass inhabited by bacteria and microbes that enter the body with food." which sounds likely. A more thoughtful response: https://thoughtmanagement.org/2011/11/21/does-the-fish-rot-from-the-head-down-when-organisations-go-toxic/ https://thoughtmanagement.org/2011/11/21/does-the-fish-rot-f... Personally I think many people have a deep belief in hierarchy and they pick models that fit that belief (or conspiracies!). I try to look at things more systematically and I tend to look for emergent causes from our society rather than blame individuals ostensibly in charge! But a great saying. Terrible SEO spam article but contains a little history: https://vogueindustry.com/17250557-the-fish-rots-from-the-head-the-meaning-and-origin-of-the-proverb https://vogueindustry.com/17250557-the-fish-rots-from-the-he...