Red tape, as burdensome, unnecessary, and ineffective rules, have been studied extensively by scholars and practitioners. The Chinese government has also repeatedly vouched for red tape reduction in its bureaucracy, but to little avail. Based on participant observation, surveys of 103 junior faculties and subsequent deep interviews with 22 faculties and administrators in R University, we examine a tenure review requirement that calls for extensive teaching skill trainings for junior faculties. We find an organizational Rashomon phenomenon among diverse organizational echelons (junior faculties/deans/university administrators) that acts as a roadblock to red tape reduction efforts. Specifically, members at diverse levels perceive whether this rule constitutes red tape differently and such divergence generates a Rashomon phenomenon that makes red tape a permanent feature in the university: organizational members at varied hierarchical levels give contradictory interpretations to how red tape is formed while shirking their responsibilities or acting inconsistently during institutional efforts to cut red tape.

繁文缛节即组织中冗余、无效且造成额外负担的规则。党的十八大以来,党和国家要求将公职人员从繁文缛节中解脱出来,真正落实简政放权,但这一桎梏却始终难以被破除。为理解这一顽疾难以被削减的原因,本文以 R大学为例,从组织内低 中 高全层级的角度 (青年教师—学院领导—学校领导)出发,聚焦于 “完成教师培训课程”的职称评审要求,通过参与式观察、对103名青年教师问卷调查及与22名教学及管理人员的深度访谈,分析这一被青年教师视为繁文缛节的规则为何难被撼动。我们发现,组织中不同层级成员的繁文缛节感知存在层级间差异,这种差异成为 “繁文缛节罗生门现象”出现的基础,即不同层级就产生繁文缛节感知的责任归属上 “顾而言他”“互踢皮球”,就削减繁文缛节感知的责任归属上 “袖手旁观”“自我辩护”。该罗生门现象有碍组织内的各层级采取有效的行动来化繁为简,是繁文缛节难以被根除的重要原因。