What does the expression 'seeing forest from trees' mean?

[Priya Raghavan]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #315 "English Slang Idioms (36)", question 6

"That is the problem with a lot of department managers. They are good at improving their department but that is often at the expense of the organization as a whole. They often can't see the ......... from the trees," the consultant said.

(a) structures
(b) others
(c) forest
(d) route

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #315 "English Slang Idioms (36)", answer 6

"That is the problem with a lot of department managers. They are good at improving their department but that is often at the expense of the organization as a whole. They often can't see the forest from the trees," the consultant said.

Correct answer: (c) forest
_________________________

What does the expression 'seeing forest from trees' mean?

Priya Raghavan

[daemon99]

to pay too much attention to details and not understand the general situation
_________________
Non-native speaker of English
=================================
I intend to live forever - so far, so good.