How can a company be so incompetent?

G4S, the world’s largest security company, was given the prestigious job of providing security for the Olympic Games in London this year. They have had years to prepare and now at the 11th hour they say they don’t have enough staff to do the job and the British government has been forced to deploy 3,500 troops (some due leave after fighting in Afghanistan) to make up the shortfall. How can a large private company be so unbelievably incompetent?