Perhaps I’m jaded, but I think there’s a difference between aiming for a high goal but missing because we’re human vs. deliberately aiming short because it’s easier. I saw a lot of the latter, like refusing to learn how to tune PID parameters to manage system dynamics or saying they don’t want to run certain tests because they would be expected to fix any problems they uncover(!).

The lowering of standards is particularly troublesome when higher standards are contractually obligated. There’s a sad phrase that I had heard at high levels called the “NASA salute” which is basically shrugging one’s shoulders to say “yeah, I know I’m supposed to do that, but I also know I won’t be held accountable if I don’t”