Common Justifications Management Uses to Defend a Sub-Optimal Status Quo:

• We're following best practices.

• That's just how the tool works—changing it would be too difficult.

• We can't go wrong if we stick with Microsoft/Google/[another large company].

• Trust has to be earned, not given. We'll loosen control when people prove they’re responsible.

• That’s not how things work in the real world.

• Our business is different; maybe [other company] can do that, but we can’t.

• My hands are tied—these decisions come from higher up.

• For economies of scale, we need to standardize.

• It doesn't pass the "bus test."

• If you can't measure it, you can't manage it.

• How will I know if people are actually working?

• We have to do it for compliance reasons.

• We’ve always done it this way.

• We’ll get to that when things settle down.

Am I missing any?