The "problem" of having more people than we have meaningful work for. This is not a new problem, but it is increasingly exacerbated by automation. So we manufacture bullshit work just to keep busy, because we've decided people shouldn't have food or shelter if they're not doing work, bullshit or not.
The world would be better off if whoever got paid to plan and implement this instead got paid to just stay in bed. The economy is fundamentally broken.
You're right, but I think there's a lot of overlap here. Large businesses are not laser-focused and are not rational actors.
Someone pitched this as a way to make money. Someone believed that was plausible and approved it. But the motivation for even pitching it was likely a step or two removed from that.
Executives and middle managers are not above bullshitting to justify their salaries.