This is a good point (the "could work if comm tech is good enough"). We can't forget that some management is things like "how do I reset my password", "how much

This is a good point (the "could work if comm tech is good enough"). We can't forget that some management is things like "how do I reset my password", "how much vacation do I have left", which is all totally automatable IF YOU BOTHER TO FO IT. Most places do not, in my experience, even if they could. If companies "flatten" and do not automate as much as possible, they will just overlap the managers remaining with trivial interruptions.