If you think about it, though, estimates (time, money, personnel) is really a management function. You write "I'd rather them take my input and do their job of

If you think about it, though, estimates (time, money, personnel) is really a management function. You write "I'd rather them take my input and do their job of understanding trends." that's exactly what I'm talking about. They need to take your input, and do their job. If a worker is told: "Here is what you (personnel) have to do (task), with these tools (environment), and we want you to do it in this amount of time (money)", and the worker fails to complete the work in the amount of time, then it is management's fault. They improperly estimated the amount of time it would take the worker to perform his task. That management ask the worker how long the task will take means management does not understand the task, and if management does not understand the task, how can they know whether the worker's skill, experience, and knowledge is adequate for the task? Now, they also seem to not understand the worker's skills, experience, and knowledge, so the problem is compounded. It is a management function to clearly define the tasks that must be performed, attract people whose skills, experience, and knowledge fit the tasks, and fund these people with the appropriate environment, tools, and salaries for them to perform the tasks. That is the role of management. If they are unable to estimate what tasks must be performed, what people need to be retained, and how much money and time will be spent, they fail at their managerial duties. That they then blame the workers themselves for improperly estimating the work is doubly wrong, a sign of managerial immaturity.