The curse is that upper management perceives this effort but doesn't perceive its effect. Even from the common fundamental perspective (the enterprise has to optimize, to dissipate as few resources as possible in order to reach the more financially beneficial and durable state) this effort is justified, however as they don't know its real impact...
True. Though, if that management is measuring the right things, they will perceive it. But "the right things" is very broad and hard to define; and probably dynamic over the years event.
