This isn't an extraordinarily bad "IT Special" patch cord job.
Seems like if it starts in the right jack, and ends in the right jack, many IT guys don't much care what is in between.

What really gets me, though, is to go into a room like this one to add something, and be told that I can't use any surface mounted conduit or boxes because it "doesn't look good". The IT guy wants a cut-in box with a stainless plate, and seems like about 1/2 the time, they want it cut into a fire rated wall. [Linked Image]