The management of an organization in need of streamlining and some cost control may get rid of its new boss, but still keep the same goals. It keeps looking for somebody who can implement the changes without turning off customers or creating staff revolts. JCP changed its mind about simple pricing and store within store concepts completely along the firing the new boss. It gave up once its existing customer base, which was not large enough to keep it afloat anyways, did not immediately took to the changes.
In both cases, upper management made a mistake. The difference is where the mistake is. In JCP, I think management may have made the right decision in hiring Johnson and I believe the mistake is in firing him and giving up on the transition that could secure the company's future. In Apple's case, the mistake was in hiring the guy who could not accomplish the goals, but if Browett is not equipped to handle the job, it is better to admit failure early and cut the cord sooner rather than later, without changing the overall strategy.