Good leadership that sets clear direction and initiatives followed by good middle management that takes these initiatives and disseminates it into something relevant and actionable by the teams doing the work. If you're lacking this then its worth trying to ask for this information to help inform your decisions.

For the record I fully acknowledge that this may not be possible and they very well may need to work within the system in a less-than-optimal state. Understanding the root of the problems help you navigate and ideally enact change even if it's more localized.