The older i get the more i think, the project management paragdigm should be one of protecting the productive core at all costs from external disruptions.

This includes deriving the actual wanted goals early in the project, planning properly and the violently shield the engineers by keeping external factors like the management microcosm, stakeholders and non-developers busy with busywork, placated with blatant lies and overall away from doing damage. Regarding the engineer team organiziation - they will work something out.

They don't need that car-production-belt whistle and whip.