An excellent description of one reason for lack of agility in organisations:

http://www.johnniemoore.com/blog/archives/002834.php

Here’s a quick version:

The boss says he’s coming over and asks some subordinate A to talk to him about X. A cancels a series of meetings to devote time to making an impressive powerpoint presentation about X.

In fact, A asks his near subordinates B, C and D to prepare some stuff for him on the subject.

B, C and D then basically replicate A’s behaviour, cancelling their own meetings and interfering with the lives of E/F/G, H/I/J and K/L/M.

Depending on the size of the organisation, rinse and repeat through various layers.