Skip to content
, home

#27AI and managementPublished

Knowledge.

What becomes of the manager when knowledge flows both ways?

ThenewB drawing #27, “Knowledge”. Two pyramids. Yesterday, experience, methods and client context flow down from partner to juniors. Tomorrow, juniors bring AI skills and new methods, the manager brings judgement and discernment.

In ten seconds

In 2026, Harvard Business Review published two articles: AI adoption is overloading middle managers (June), and some junior employees work well with AI while others do not (July).

Signal

In 2026, Harvard Business Review published two articles: AI adoption is overloading middle managers (June), and some junior employees work well with AI while others do not (July).

Paradox

Yesterday, knowledge flowed down from partner to juniors. With AI, juniors also bring methods and productivity. The manager ends up at the crossroads.

Implication

The manager’s role shifts towards judgement, client context and discernment. They need preparing for it, or they become the bottleneck.

Sources

  • Harvard Business Review, “AI Adoption Is Overloading Your Middle Managers”, June 2026
  • Harvard Business Review, “Why Some Junior Employees Work Well with AI, and Others Don’t”, July 2026

Domains concerned

Related analyses

All perspectives

Ready to think differently?

Talk to us