Smithsonian reviews

Because we are all federal employees, there is very little accountability. Many people do a bare minimum of work and their supervisors don't want to take the time or effort to address it--even though there are means available to do so. The workforce is weighted heavily toward late career (60+) staff and many simply refuse to acknowledge the need to implement technology. And as I said, there is little effort put forth to make these people accountable. Also . . . in some departments, nepotism is rife. If you want to be promoted then you need to suck up and stop worrying about being effective or furthering the Institution's goals.

Like other government agencies, The Smithsonian is highly bureaucratic and slow to respond to changes, and can tend to be very hierarchical. The structure of the Institution, with 20 museums and numerous other research centers and office space, feeling like one institution can be difficult to attain. There has been recent trouble with the former leadership of the Institution, the ramifications of which are still being felt. There is an aging population of workers, many of whom have been there for a long time, so adoption of new technology and new approaches to work and management is slow and difficult.