It is kind of heartbreaking. But, although my current manager is excellent at supporting his team and would never think such a thing, let alone say it, the tru

It is kind of heartbreaking. But, although my current manager is excellent at supporting his team and would never think such a thing, let alone say it, the truth is that, unless you're a professional researcher, you really do have to do the hammock-driven thing on your own time, either by working it into your routine or by taking a long sabbatical (as Rich did). It's something I struggle with, even at a very good workplace. "Nothing is more precious" than the chance to think through a problem over a long term, and as things stand, the best tool for thinking is still the mind, not the keyboard. I can see how that takes a leap of faith when your chief deliverable is code. Anyway, maybe a better introduction for your typical manager is, > The most expensive problems are problems of misconception.