This is a very valid point. Most managers think communicating the immediate work load of the team is their only responsibility. But most of the time the team really needs to know the bigger picture. What is the future direction of the company, product etc. and most of the managers are really stingy with these types of details. This behavior results in lot of duplication of efforts. Managers are happy as they have something to show in their status reports. But in the long run, it reduces the overall product quality as most engineering decisions cannot be prudently taken without having the bigger picture in your head.