40 minutes ago, Cpt ObVus said:

Bosses frequently give incomplete or vague instructions and blame their underlings for the consequences. This is basic workplace dynamics, especially when they didn’t particularly like those underlings to begin with. Given the autocratic command structure, I would imagine the problem would be exacerbated in the Imperial Navy, especially considering Vader’s extramilitary status.

In the military you have a system called Mission Command. It works with well trained armies like those in the US and Europe, where you train the heck out of your troops, promote the brightest and then let them decide how to achieve the goals you set for them. Despite the Imperial Navy's occasionally woeful showing against the space wizards, a modern technical navy would have to use a system of Mission Command. So - Vader says "Set your course for the Hoth system" and since no further orders are forthcoming Ozzel is free to make his own strategic choice, and decides surprise is wiser.

I disagree with your use of the word 'frequently' when describing bosses, but you may have personal experience.

3 hours ago, flatpackhamster said:

In the military you have a system called Mission Command. It works with well trained armies like those in the US and Europe, where you train the heck out of your troops, promote the brightest and then let them decide how to achieve the goals you set for them. Despite the Imperial Navy's occasionally woeful showing against the space wizards, a modern technical navy would have to use a system of Mission Command. So - Vader says "Set your course for the Hoth system" and since no further orders are forthcoming Ozzel is free to make his own strategic choice, and decides surprise is wiser.

I disagree with your use of the word 'frequently' when describing bosses, but you may have personal experience.

I’ve worked for some horrible bosses.

I also think that the Imperial military was dealing (in Vader) with an extramilitary interloper with zero accountability to anyone but the Emperor. His disciplinary system of summary execution alone would have been disruptive to decent decision making.

18 minutes ago, Cpt ObVus said:

I’ve worked for some horrible bosses.

I also think that the Imperial military was dealing (in Vader) with an extramilitary interloper with zero accountability to anyone but the Emperor. His disciplinary system of summary execution alone would have been disruptive to decent decision making.

That's true. Once people fear the consequences of failure enough they'll risk lying to ensure they don't get seen to fail. That happens in all systems, but most of all under systems where the failure carries the ultimate price like in Communist China.

Voltaire wrote of the Royal Navy that they occasionally like to execute an admiral 'to give courage to the others' (referring to Admiral Byng) and it is true, it did work and led to British captains being far more aggressive and their opponents being far more wary, which means the psychological battle for victory was already half won.

Byng's execution may have been one of the factors that led to British naval pre-eminence. I have certainly seen that argued.

But if you're doing it every day instead of once every 20 years or so, it does more harm than good.