Deflection or necessity?

Recently, often began to face the so-called "deflection."

Implementing something (new mail server with extended functionality - for example, switching from postfix to exchange with all the ensuing consequences) without agreeing with the business need for this new knowledge, but only to “show” work on automation. As a result of what - a lot of problems preys.

That's the question - how often does this happen to the rest? Or is it just that I get to such places?
And what are the advantages in this "trough"? Although I do not see any specific advantages in this (at least for business)