[mr_toad]

Step 1: senior management asks for some numbers Step 2: report produced. Management reads the executive summary. Step 3: someone trying to look busy asks for an update. Report is updated manually, because it was never designed to be automated. Step 4: report continues to be produced for years after anyone stops reading it.

[serpix]

Some people get hired between step 3 and 4 and might never make the mental connection to step 1.

Step 5. Consultants get hired to digitalise the process of reporting.

Now a good consultant can make the leap to step 1 and start redirecting value to something else. A shitty consultant milks the company for $ without ever undermining the sorry people stuck at step 3.