> If there was a better way to do things companies would be doing it.

One economist says to the other, "look, there's $20 on the ground!" The first replies, "nonsense, if there were, someone would have picked it up already!"

>If there was a better way to do things companies would be doing it.

Only if it involved short-term profit for those making the decisions on how to do it. Which is the problem in the first place.

If it’s simple math then why hasn’t e.g. Apple mass fired people?

This has been discussed a ton. They didn't grow as quickly (overhire) over the past few years as many of the other tech companies. See:

https://daringfireball.net/linked/2023/01/22/apple-avoiding-...

https://fortune.com/2023/02/10/apple-avoided-tech-layoff-rus...

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2023/01/27/how-apple-...

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/18/apple-had-slower-headcount-g...

...

Which really illustrates the point - smart, sustainable business model, vs the pump and dump.

They have been laying people off. Just slowly and have managed to keep it out of the news. Lots of contractors.