How does GE Oil & Gas make decisions around promotions?

I hate to be cynical but feel strongly that promotions are tied to having the right champions in leadership. This means that if someone with better ties than you have applied for the same role, they will get it. GE O&G is not a meritocracy and gets extremely biased by individuals once you hit Executive band level.

In Technology organization it relates to your team's ability to influence engineering leadership. The lack of a meritocracy is clearer the higher you go. Disastrous backroom "boys club" decisions on staffing and structure have resulted in decreased capacity, incompetent leaders (that are "aligned" to the right sponsor) and massive attrition of the best and brightest.