The cost of a 30 year commitment to an employee is very high. Companies that lay people off do not invest as much. They are not hiring 200 people in the next month. They are announcing plans to hire, that doesn't cost a lot. Management has to prudently run their business, including that things go per their business plan. They can not wait for approvals or shareholders will get very upset about the delays that causes. Do not mistake management doing planning for a successful launch as the equivalent that management has no contingency plans, or that approval is a slam dunk.