noun
ineptitude and inaction; incapable of devising appropriate measures
A strong, often critical compound describing a state of being both incompetent and passive, unable to take effective action. Used in formal or written contexts to condemn leadership or organizational failure.
政府の無能無策が被害を拡大させた。
The government's ineptitude and inaction worsened the damage.
経営陣の無能無策で会社は倒産した。
The company went bankrupt due to the management's incompetence and failure to act.
無策 means lack of policy or plan, emphasizing inaction. 無能無策 combines this with incompetence.
A yojijukugo (four-character compound) combining 無能 (incompetence) and 無策 (lack of policy). The exact origin is uncertain, but it follows a common pattern of pairing two negative qualities for emphasis.