South East Water’s leadership team has demonstrated a clear preference for blaming factors outside of their control for performance issues, and in some cases, they continue to do so, despite clear evidence to the contrary. A lack of data-analysis skills might be partially to blame, but it is also clear that a culture of obfuscating responsibility has also taken hold, seriously inhibiting their ability to analyse problems and learn lessons. The company’s investigations, as well as that of the Drinking Water Inspectorate, have identified potential issues with a lack of challenge or groupthink within the company: that “family feel” may be closer to a “clique” than a benefit. We have serious doubts that the addition of two more executives will tackle this pervasive problem. (Conclusion, Paragraph 68)