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Re:Sacked Google worker awarded €110,000 for unfair dismissal by mercer on Tuesday May 20, 2014 @04:10PM (#7774880)
It's quite likely that some kind of hidden structure emerged.

However, could you explain what you mean with 'political' in this context? Because 'political connections', in my mind, also includes reputation and knowledge of competence. And that doesn't seem like a bad thing.

Re:Sacked Google worker awarded €110,000 for unfair dismissal by DerpDerpDerp on Tuesday May 20, 2014 @05:06PM (#7775186)
Things that would normally qualify as "soft power", eg, being friends with the right people, trading favors, reputation management, etc.

Even the example you give requires reputation management, as opposed to merely raising a good technical argument at the time (as a new person on the staff).

Re:Sacked Google worker awarded €110,000 for unfair dismissal by rhizome on Tuesday May 20, 2014 @09:07PM (#7776188)
Sure, but you're leaving "competence" unspecified. Political connections are based upon competence at what? Therein lies the rub.