Somewhere in the organisation, high in its upper reaches, were minds that churned out page after page of guidance notes, instructions, and policy statements. Most of these were filed and forgotten; seldom did they make any difference to the way in which people carried out their duties. But the procedure for procedures had to be gone through, in accordance with further procedural guidelines.
The passage describes a bureaucratic environment where the creation of numerous guidance documents, instructions, and policies occurs at high levels of the organization. Although these documents are meticulously produced, they often end up neglected and have little impact on employees' actual work practices. This highlights a disconnect between policy-making and practical application.
Moreover, the emphasis on following procedural steps to generate these documents indicates a focus on compliance rather than effectiveness. The process of creating procedures becomes an end in itself, reflecting a cultural tendency towards maintaining formalities instead of fostering genuine improvements in work performance.
