What is Mushroom Management? This question is from The Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder.

Data General had its own style of management that was referred to as Mushroom management. This could almost be described as no management. One of the biggest complaints of the "kids" who worked on the project is that there was no one in control. When they ran into problems, they had no manager they could go to who would make a decision. When the "kids" experienced problems, they had to meet with the other team. and negotiate their own resolution. They were given the project of designing a machine and that was it. All of the details were left up to them. Whatever problems they ran into, they solved on their own.