# Explanations, Reasons, and Excuses By:: [[Ross Jackson]] 2024-03-15 Justifications can take many forms. Examples of justification provided in professional contexts are explanations, reasons, and excuses. Each, in their pure sense, is distinct. In practice, it can be hard to distinguish among the three. Explanations provide a factual description as to what occurred. An explanation often occurs when management asks what happened. Reasons are justifications as to why a person did what they did. Excuses are rationalizations provided to deflect responsibility away from oneself. Whereas these could occur at any time, they tend to be more prevalent when something negative has happened. None of them changed the situation. Whatever happened happened. Explanations, reasons, and excuses do not change the events. They nuance how one makes sense of what happened. Given the asymmetry within organizations in terms of power, those at the upper echelon reserve the privilege of either not responding when something goes wrong or providing an explanation or a reason. Those relegated to the bottom often have little recourse other than to attempt to give an excuse. Within the military, there is a concept of “different spanks for different ranks.” This means that punishment is selectively applied depending on one’s position. Those at the top get off easy; those at the bottom receive severe punishment. This phenomenon is linked to the types of justifications available to each stratum. #### Related Items [[Organization]] [[Excuses]] [[Justification]] [[Hierarchy]] [[Punishment]] [[Explanations]]