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He strode briskly away, to do whatever it was the managers…

“He strode briskly away, to do whatever it was the managers did. Have meetings, I guess. Make phone calls. It was hard for us on the technical side to understand why the company required so many managers. Engineers built things. Salespeople sold things. Even Human Resources I could understand, kind…” quote by Max Barry
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““He strode briskly away, to do whatever it was the managers did. Have meetings, I guess. Make phone calls. It was hard for us on the technical side to understand why the company required so many managers. Engineers built things. Salespeople sold things. Even Human Resources I could understand, kind of. But managers proliferated despite performing very few identifiable functions.””

Max Barry

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Managers often multiply without clear purpose, creating bureaucracy that hinders technical work.

In simple terms: Too many managers cause inefficiency.

Key Takeaway

Clarify roles and reduce unnecessary layers.

Themes

bureaucracy management efficiency

Mood

frustrated critical

Type

observational critical

When to use this quote

  • software development
  • project planning
  • team structure
  • process improvement

Key Concepts

organizational design role clarity

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can we measure a manager’s impact?
  • What tasks truly require management?
A Different Perspective

Managers may be needed for coordination, not just numbers.

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