Which term describes excessive secrecy that can isolate planning efforts from essential participants?

• A. Over Classification
• B. Lack of Interoperability
• C. Over Compartmentalization
• D. Poor Communications

Answer: (C)

Focus on how secrecy can become a rigid barrier that splits information into isolated pockets. When information is kept in narrow compartments, essential participants don’t have the full picture or the context needed to contribute effectively. This over compartmentalization slows decision-making, creates misalignment, and leaves gaps in the plan because people can’t see how their pieces fit with others. Some secrecy is necessary, but the problem arises when the structure itself enforces silos that block collaboration.

That is why this term fits best: it emphasizes the dangerous consequence of too much compartmentalization—information is too tightly partitioned, isolating planning efforts from those who must participate. By contrast, over classification is about labeling more material as secret, which can also hinder access but doesn’t inherently describe the siloed organizational structure as directly. Lack of interoperability and poor communications describe different issues—systems that don’t work together or failures in sharing information—rather than the deliberate isolation of planning through silos.