[sateesh]

I would say yes on two counts, one for his/her own growth/benefit and other for the team's benefit. If there is more work in the pipeline it keeps the team less worried about what are the future tasks they can focus on, and this becomes especially important if the company is going through a rough phase. In addition additional work also gives opportunity for the team members to work across different projects and rotate people who are driven and want to work on different projects/technologies a chance, and to retain them. Naturaally, when the team benefits and succeeds it helps the manager and improves his standing in the organiaztion.

However the ugly side of this is office politics, where some managers continuously try to expand their turf undercutting other teams so that they manage bigger teams and reap rewards. (say a bigger title).