These are the facts in many organizations.
1). Rich and greedy executives refuse to retire. Fame-seeking execs want people to admire and worship them. They spend time promoting themselves rather than investigating the organization issues or quietly helping the poors. They listen and believe whatever her/his senior staff reported.
2) Useless and narcissistic Senior management copies the execs's "eyes on me" attitude. They are lacking of domain knowledge and problem solving ability. Most of them are extrovert and attention seekers. Their job are to make decision base on whatever middle management give them.
3) There are two types of Middle management. First type of managers are smart and hard working. Unfortunately, most of them left or planning to leave. Second type are "deck" managers. They ask their staff to create slides and reports, so that they can pass to upper management. They micro manage and they layoff high achieving staff (aka chickens) who are capble to move up and potentially replace them.
version 2.0 - chickens return to rooster.