Justme
These are the words of Spanair's chief of operation, Javier Muela, extracted from an interview and translated by me:
In relation to procedures for checking the takeoff devices he said: "from the time the engines are started until take off, the takeoff configuration is tested up to three times, specially the flaps and its indicators, to make sure it's the correct one" .... "This triple check is even more effective than a TOWS check recommended by the manufacturer, which nonetheless is made during the first flight of the day or, in consecutive flights, if the crew changes or if they have left the aircraft".
If this statement is true, then we have a clue. It is very possible that the TO configuration was checked only once.
If so, we can presume that the pilots were used to do this only one time, not three times, so the procedures were not followed, and in this case we can talk of poor management and training, as nobody noticed what they were doing.