In principle, there is no reason for any organization to decline from the position of Predictable Success. In practice, many organizations begin to swing too far toward dependance on process and policies.
Creativity, risk-taking and initiative decline in response, and the organization becomes increasingly formulaic and arthritic.
Working for the organization at this stage in its development can feel like being on a Treadmill: a lot of energy is being expended, but there’s little sense that forward momentum is being achieved.
There’s an overemphasis on data over action, on form over content. Good people start to leave – many of whom have been with the organization for some time.
Even the entrepreneurial founder(s) (if they’re still there) may be becoming frustrated and threatening to leave also.