[Consultant32452]

I don't think there's anything adversarial about simply doing what you're asked to the best of your ability. I might occasionally drop a tidbit of advice about how I could be used more effectively, but ultimately that's not my decision. Just because I perceive it to be wasteful doesn't mean it is to the person signing the checks.

Regarding long term investment. For most people at most companies long term (more than 2-3 years) investment means moving to a better job somewhere else. Investing in your future is figuring out how to get the next job, not maximizing one aspect of your current job that your employer doesn't even seem concerned about.