For this to be effective, it has to be understood all the way to the top. The problem I see is that managers are often not technical enough and simply want to a

For this to be effective, it has to be understood all the way to the top. The problem I see is that managers are often not technical enough and simply want to appease their bosses with something tangible ... or they are technical, understand this but their boss is not technical, in which case they end up doubling down anyway to appease their boss. Odds are your middle manager has very little clout to argue for much anyway.