I don't worry about manager:IC links. Where it gets problematic is manager -> manager -> product -> frontend ux reqs -> backend team lead/pm -> ICs. There enoug

I don't worry about manager:IC links. Where it gets problematic is manager -> manager -> product -> frontend ux reqs -> backend team lead/pm -> ICs. There enough broken telephone there to make building the right thing challenging even if someone along the chain had a crystal clear vision. Multiply that by factors if you have to co-orndinate changes with one of more other company reporting chains. The biggest problem I see are 'generic' managers who don't really understand the customer, product+changes, and/or tech. They just want to seem important while being an ineffective relay that basically only serves upward.