[Tade0]

There's a side to this that I feel wasn't explored in the article: some people want to be put in such a situation, because it makes them appear busy and thus not layoff material. They have bills, mortgages, private schools to finance and prefer the status quo.

Moreover there are people who want their team to be like that, because they enjoy not having their decisions second guessed by any of the team members. These people in turn suck up all the autonomy that the team is given and produce the NIHest examples of architectural astronautics possible.

I've been in several projects where this was the case. The usual scenario starts off with me barging in and crying "cease this madness!". Replies range from indifferent through apologetic to hostile.

Eventually, after shoehorning too many refactors into my assigned tasks I either get fired or quit.

I now actively avoid such places because I'm simply not cut for such work.