This article doesn't even understand what middle managers do. The functions listed like "scheduling, negotiating, training" are for line managers, who are dire

This article doesn't even understand what middle managers do. The functions listed like "scheduling, negotiating, training" are for line managers, who are directly responsible for supervising the line workers actually doing the work. Middle management is the next layer up the food chain: the managers of managers, responsible for executing strategy coming from up high, but lacking executive power to actually change that strategy.