Yeah most of the gigs I’ve worked at where the big consultants have been involved have been all about the billable hours that the consultants can charge, and the internal managers who facilitate these transactions - in order to be able move to a cushy job in the same company, some months later.
It’s quite literally corrupt, but everyone seems to know and nothing gets done - because politicians are part of the revolving door. People like us who actually care about doing a good job are just cannon fodder.
Mostly I’ve just learned to avoid such projects like the plague. As a small enterprise software player, the best customers where those who still had skin in the game.