Re: Misalignment
"It follows that you need at least six layers of management in a company of 5000"
Granted, but given it increases exponentially, 7 levels is already more than enough. 10 levels with a branching factor of 2.5 (ie each manager managing 2 or 3 direct reports) goes to over 6k total headcount.
Also, regarding managers only being able to competently handle X direct reports, I am a strongbeliever that managers should spend no more than 40-50% of their time managing direct reports, and still need to have actual productive work that theyare doing. This also keeps the managerial class in touch with the actual work being done.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
