Not even rationalize large numbers, but when concentrating on details the vision of the greater whole can be lost. One of the reason startups are so efficient i

Not even rationalize large numbers, but when concentrating on details the vision of the greater whole can be lost. One of the reason startups are so efficient is that ideally the founders wake up every day with a definite goal in mind to work toward the larger objective. When people only understand a portion of the whole concept, they can make decisions that work in their sphere, but don't contribute to the whole. In the story you cite, for example, the city didn't come in and say, "How can we be most effective," they were saying, "what costs can we cut" or perhaps "Oh goodness we sure spend a lot on that." Keeping perspective is extremely difficult to do.