In a perfect world, managers would have all the technical knowledge that all the engineers under him/her have. This is not realistic or feasible. However, a good manager makes the effort to be involved in all the projects their employees have going on, at least on an overview level. The more involved a manager is in understanding the operations and challenges faced by their team members, the better they will be able to communicate in both directions (up and down the chain of command). While there may be no substitute for technical skills and knowledge, a manager can make up for some of it with effective communication and attention to their employees input and concerns.