Symptons of working in a Passive Aggressive Organization

http://blogs.theage.com.au/managementline/archives/2005/10/passiveaggressi.html

To summarise in points, the symptons in a passive aggressive organization (PAO) are :
+passive aggressive organisations are usually large and complex enterprises where there are plenty of places to hide
+people who seem to do all the work aren't rewarded, while others get whatever they want
+a big difference between the organisation's ideology and practice
+employees feel free to do as they see fit because there are hardly ever unpleasant consequences, and the directives themselves are often misguided
+senior management has left unclear where accountability actually lies

To diagnose whether organisation is passive-aggressive, ask the following questions:
-Does everyone have a good idea of what they are responsible for?
-Are decisions second-guessed?
-Do employees have enough information to understand what impact their choices have on the bottom line?
-Does information flow freely across the organisation or are there people withholding it?
-Does the performance appraisal system differentiate high, adequate and low performers?

To read more about PAO
http://harvardbusinessonline.hbsp.harvard.edu/b02/en/common/item_detail.jhtml?id=R0510E

Solution:
>Breaking free from this pattern is hard;
>Often it's best to bring in an outsider to signal that this time things will be different.
>He or she will need to address every obstacle all at once: clarify decision rights; see to it that decisions stick; and reward people for sharing information and adding value, not for successfully negotiating corporate politics.

I can't agree more.