A quite lengthy article on the rise of the management class, written by a philosophy PhD and former management consultant:

“They were supposed to save the business,” said one client manager, rolling his eyes. “Actually,” he corrected himself, “they were supposed to keep the illusion going long enough for the boss to find a new job.”

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2006/06/the-management-myth/304883/?single_page=true