Cliques. . Fit in quickly or you will not advance. Best qualified can be down played in favor of lesser qualified but in the clique player.
Human resources bows down to those in charge so their job is to cover up and create smoke and mirrors that can prevent the best qualified from succeeding. Succession planning is a tool that can qualify you or disqualify one for promotion but not used as most companies would use. Nothing is based on actual information that can be verified. Those chosen to succeed are placed in positions long before the interview process. Interview process is just for show as decisions have already been made.
RVPs need to go in favor of new unbiased management.