not precisely true. the "line managers" reporting to a middle manager frequently do not have the word "manager" in their title, leaving middle managers as the l

not precisely true. the "line managers" reporting to a middle manager frequently do not have the word "manager" in their title, leaving middle managers as the lowest level of actual managers. line managers are a bit like NCO's (sargeants, corporals, non-commissioned officers) in the military; they have experience doing to the thing that they people they oversee do. The officer they report to may not.