How does Rakuten Marketing make decisions around promotions?

You fill out a review form. If you get a 4.0 or above, and you get approved by people five levels above you, and if a position is available and there is budget for it, you'll get promoted. That's how it's supposed to work. But then there is other nonsense where people randomly shoot to the top, seemingly outside of the official process. Rules are for most people, but not everyone.