Abstract
The symbol for symbiosis, used within transactional analysis to convey the concept of an unnatural social interdependency between parent and child, is extended into a chain in order to symbolize a phenomenon observed within the chain of command of organizations involved in rendering noncompetitive routine services. The symbiotic chain symbol represents the extension of social interdependency downward through one to several levels of supervision. The chain's effect is to isolate top management from the creative and innovative ideas of autonomous individuals at the journeyman level. The chain's impact on promotion creates a paucity of leadership-in-depth in the workplace by reducing the probability of promotion of autonomous individuals.