Underlying structure - what's that?

A recent answer on a comment (on a discussion board entry)  questioning the outcome of a company in an economic downturn.

Other person answering, "Which structure? The persons acted all on their best knowledge and intentions, we can't blame them."

This sounds like the systemic view is unknown in the "real" world and things are taken as they are.

How can the abstract word "structure" better connect to what it really means?

Ralf