On the other side, there is a "culture of learning", where we expect sometimes to fail, and we save blame and punishment for people who do not learn from their failures (in practice, this is a lot like repeating the same behavior and expecting a different outcome). Yes, sometimes a mistake is costly, but if the person making the mistake learns not to repeat it, we win. If we find a way to make that mistake impossible in the future, we win. In this environment, honesty can be expected (confessing within reason), and will be the norm. In a culture of learning, iteration becomes a way of life and cross organization coordination is much easier.
In my business life I much prefer a culture of learning or one of blame, and in hiring, especially mid a senior level people, I'm careful to hire people that value learning and like to put problems on trial instead of people.