Big businesses are not all that different from high school.
There’s the way that things are supposed to work–you’re not supposed to have to worry about your teacher/boss bullying you or your classmate/coworker taking credit for your work, and the teachers/management are supposed to always know the right thing to do, and do it.
But your job, just like your high school, is filled with–and run by–people. And people are complicated, vindictive, confusing, sympathetic, pathological, and messy. They make mistakes. They make bad decisions. Behind a thin facade of competence, they’re frequently so disorganized that it’s amazing that they function at all.
Sometimes the good guys lose (their jobs) and the bad guys win (a promotion). Sometimes good guys lose because they are good and doing the right thing, and sometimes bad guys win because they are being unethical, territorial, or just mean.
You might easily find yourself in a no-win situation. Try to follow Sun Tzu and The Art of War and don’t start a battle (job) you can’t win (be successful, happy and well-compensated at). But remember that “no-win” means “you can’t win” and don’t be too surprised when it happens. Just pick up the pieces and try to put yourself in a better situation next time.
And, if you can help it, try not to be the bad guy. Every once in a while, the bad guy gets his, and jail isn’t fun.