Organizational culture is more important than strategy

Maj. Gen. (res.) Giora Eiland publishes a new book examining the failures that led to the disaster of October 7, 2023. Eiland focuses on three planes: philosophical (misinterpretation of reality), psychological (overconfidence of experienced intelligence officers), and sociological (failed organizational culture in the IDF). He asserts that at least 75% of the blame lies with the military, and quotes the central phrase: "Organizational culture eats strategy for breakfast."

Maj. Gen. (res.) Giora Eiland has published a new book titled "How the Hell Could This Happen to Us?", released by Yedioth Books. Eiland, a former head of the National Security Council and one of Israel's most respected military commentators, does not focus on describing the events of October 7, 2023 themselves, but rather seeks an answer to the piercing question of how thousands of men, women, and children were besieged in the attacked Gaza border communities and paid a terrible blood price. He analyzes the event through three disciplines: the philosophical, dealing with the misinterpretation of reality and the creation of a narrative detached from facts; the psychological, referring to the ingrained tendency to trust experienced intelligence officers, which actually fixes in them an exaggerated sense of righteousness (cognitive closure); and the sociological, examining organizational culture. Eiland notes that the Intelligence Directorate concluded in June-July 2023 that the chances of war were increasing, but assumed that Hezbollah would lead the campaign and ignored data from the south. He argues that at least 75% of the blame lies with the military, and concludes with the key phrase: "Organizational culture eats strategy for breakfast." According to him, some of the required changes have already been implemented by the current Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir.

Organizational culture is more important than strategy