My personal experience was at Siemens VDO (Automotive). And here was the layout: teams (me part of one with 5 other programmers) -> team leader (programmer also

My personal experience was at Siemens VDO (Automotive). And here was the layout: teams (me part of one with 5 other programmers) -> team leader (programmer also, my direct boss) -> groups (my group was BCM - Body Control Module) -> Group leader (non-programmer, the middle manager) -> Department (Hardware for me) -> Head of department -> Board of directors -> CEO. After a few weeks I started to learn that the middle managers roles are to make sure to set broad goals within their groups/teams and to make sure resources are available to programmers to make those goals achievable before deadline. So my interaction with the middle management was very easy - give them the list of resources I need it to make sure the goals are done before deadline. And in doing so I've learned the absolute best truth about this - power is a balance. I have the power, as a programmer, to make life miserable to a middle manager if he failed to fulfill my list of demands. Also he had the power to make my life miserable if he fulfilled his part of the bargain and I do not achieve those goals before deadline. So after learning this truth instead of taking a "sir, yes sir" ass-kissing attitude like usually people do when they meet somebody above them on the ladder, I started to treat them as buddies with "Hi George, how's the house redecoration working" style. Definitely dispelled any tensions and made both of our lives easier. Also I had on other organization I worked for a stuck-up-ass type who expected everybody to bow before him. Since I was never the bow-before-you type sure we did a collision shortly after I started working there. My direct boss also told me to suck it up because he was afraid of that guy too. I didn't like it so next thing I did I went directly to CEO and complained about that stuck-up-ass manager and that he was making my life hard without a real reason. Long story short, for the remaining of my time there (another year) that guy was only honey and sugar with me while still remaining an a*hole with the rest. It all depends of how you crush the bad behavior on 1st encounter in the end.