Short answer: no. Background: I used to be a developer and have managed developers. Now I work in info sec and manage info sec. Longer answer: this question h

Short answer: no. Background: I used to be a developer and have managed developers. Now I work in info sec and manage info sec. Longer answer: this question has been discussed throughout my career. (1) Does it help for a manager to understand what a team does and needs to do? Absolutely yes. Some managers can do this without domain experience but it's a lot harder for them and the team. (2) Should a manager keep doing what their team does? Probably not. I can actually do most of what my team does faster and better, but they need to learn to do it. I don't scale. I can mentor them, and if there's a need for more resource I can get it for them. Edit: I do actually still write code - but just in my own time because I enjoy it.