The best programmers are usually the ones, who enjoy programming and have been doing it for years. If you move them on to the management, perhaps even convincin

The best programmers are usually the ones, who enjoy programming and have been doing it for years. If you move them on to the management, perhaps even convincing them, that this is what they want, you might make them very unhappy and ultimately leave your business. Great way to lose your best programmers. Just let people do, what they excel at and listen to what they say about things they could have an idea about. Instead of moving your best programmers to management, hire management, that listens to the best programmers in matters, which the programmers touch due to working on problems.