Because it's an indication of intent, a change in the winds. It's feels like your employer saying 'numbers are now more important than getting things done'. It

Because it's an indication of intent, a change in the winds. It's feels like your employer saying 'numbers are now more important than getting things done'. It's basically signalling the beginning of bureaucracy. And that's exactly what happened in Derek's example. So they were not irrational at all, it's a very powerful social cue that the company didn't even know it was giving.