Why do bullies get promoted?

I ponder this in the workplace world often. Why do bullies get promoted?

These are the people in the workplace usually no one likes and don't play well with the other kids. They are mean, loud, cruel, and generally ill-behaved. If they were kids they would be the ones on the playground with a humpy-little-beast of a side kick and some sort of hulking persona.

Other kids stay clear and fear but not exactly respect them.

In the work place they get promoted. The "higher ups" see them as "go getters" and employees who get the job done. But, at what cost?

Another example that proves to me that workplace is just an adult version (a sometimes only mildly adult) of the playground. There is a tattle tale, a geek, a jock, a gossip, a shy kid, the popular kid, and yes of course the Bully.