Intel also had the stack ranking. I think this management technique originated with Jack Welsh at GE. It does pit groups against each other. Even for individuals on the same team, it pays to sabotage each other's work. I heard of managers hiring people so that they could be offered up when layoffs came around. It was kind of like how the Celt's had human sacrifice. Families would adopt people so that they could be offered up if they were chosen to give a family member for sacrifice at a later date.