[adekok]

> So then maybe it wasn't important? (I don't know, i'm just suggesting maybe this goal was not as important to the business as you think it was. :P) "let the managers run the company into the ground."

This was for a small company (<100 people) with good visibility from sales to engineering.

The main customer who comprised a good chunk of sales had hard requirements for the software. Both in terms of functionality, and in terms of deadlines.

They came close to being missed because the managers spent their time focussing on "fun" and "pet" projects, for 1/10 of the revenue.

What I find most disturbing about your comments is the implicit assumption that managers know best, and that engineers should shut up. There is no question that incompetent managers exist.

A knee-jerk response of "maybe managers know best" is perhaps best answered by "maybe they don't".