I'm surprised at the pollyanna-ish dismay on display here that this type of behavior is NOT common place. It's literally the way the world works, and has worked forever. Every middling manager, bureaucrat, or supervisor over anyone has always lorded it over others and used their influence to build little fiefdoms. Hell I deal with three of them in my job everyday. I personally think the reaction here, to your story, is a manifestation of techs exaltation of "meritocracy" and a rejection of the notion that, their ability, skills, technical knowledge maybe don't really matter that much in the end. Horrifying thought to many technologist. Just my opinion.