I think big corporates are a perfect example. Have you ever poured your heart and soul into a project only to have it canned for political reasons? Ever worked in a job that could be automated or done by half as many people but doing so would reduce a managers/directors/departments power? Ever wanted to switch to working on important projects where you can make a difference only to have your manager refuse your transfer because it would make his/her job harder?

This sort of stuff is common in big corporates and a natural response is to do the bare minimum.