I was called "confrontational" once because I dared to question why QA was only 82% complete with testing on the last day of testing, and what they're plan would be if they found a defect in that last 18% of testing. Because I dared asked the question everyone wanted to, I'm the bad guy. I also dared ask why we need to go through the effort of putting together a plan for targeting zero defects from our developers when our developers are forced to code things in less than half the time they need, and they have no time for peer review, code review, and unit testing. Being Captain Obvious is bad when your manager is Captain Oblivious.
I've noticed an increase in this in my line of work. I call it running the 4-way stop.
Products I have a part in developing pass through the hands of many. At some point, someone determined that they could get their product done by skipping steps, and running the 4-way stop sign, because whatever they missed or whatever error they created would be caught by someone else. Why should I stop if everyone else will?
Well, the problem is that:
1. Continued running of the 4-way stop sign reduces dollars and hours spent on a project - yes, but then it artificially reduces the perceived cost of developing that said product. Estimators then go in with these reduced numbers to win new work, and put the entire team behind the 8-ball before the job even starts.
2. Continued running of the 4-way stop sign works as long as others behave and follow the rules of the road. But if someone else in the product development line also runs the stop (misses / shortchanges on the same thing) - BOOM! Crash. Error.
I was having drinks with classmates from college, and one of them rolled off a bunch of rules. I wish I wrote them all down. But the one that I do remember is that when something goes bad, the root cause is never just one thing... It's several things that by themselves would not lead to failure, but when they align and contribute to each other, they do.
That's when the 4-way stop sign (and elohssa drivers) popped into my head. (I also thought of that old game Star Castle, but the 4-way stop sign relates easier)
I've resigned myself to realize that if I am the last wicket the ball has to pass through, it's on me to check everyone elses work, even if those before me have checked all the boxes. I know of no management team that would be willing to add layers and layers of checking to a product, as the cost of adding those layers results in the loss of the job to a cheaper bidder...
Sad, but true. I can feel your pain; twice as much because you were penalized for telling the truth and asking an honest question..
