Accumulation of recognized merit

Organizations and social systems develop a variety of procedures for rewarding performance evaluated as superior by the standards of the group. Such evaluation procedures are closely tied to the advancement of the career of the individual concerned and of any faction with which he is associated. As a result individuals adapt their career strategy to ensure that they acquire merit points, of whatever form, irrespective of whether these in fact correspond to meritorious effort and of whether they are forced to avoid actions which would expose them to negative evaluations. The acquisition of career merit points then becomes the career focus, whether this involves avoiding communicating negative feedback to superiors, avoiding responsibility for unpleasant decisions or doctoring reports to present his own actions in the most positive light. The individual's concerns thus shift to the image or appearance of his actions and away from the actions themselves.