In popular culture, managers aren't always held in high esteem. Dilbert paints them as meddling bunch that occasionally cause more harm than good. Their depictions in British TV series tend towards one of two types. They either demonstrate toe-curling awkwardness like David Brent. Or they show slapstick incompetence like Basel faulty and faulty towers. But while humorous, those unflattering depictions may have at least a tiny bit of truth behind them.