Because they are unaware of the scale of the problem. Especially at the top, managers think being in meetings all day is "work" even if nothing actually gets done in those meetings. Consider people like this [0] automating their jobs and not telling anyone, no one would know otherwise.

[0] https://old.reddit.com/r/AutoHotkey/comments/1p7xrro/have_yo...

I know it won’t be popular but making resource investment decisions is actually getting things done.

You understand that for you to do “real work” all day someone and to research and decide to pay you to do that.

And before you say you are self guided answer me if you took up painting tomorrow would you be allowed to continue.