"Did David Wallace make a mistake making Jim and Michael co-managers?" That's what u/TsunderePeopleRules asks at the r/DunderMifflin subreddit. They're referring to the end of Season 6, Episode 2, when, at Michael's urging and much to Dwight's (Rainn Wilson) outrage, Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) is made co-manager along with Michael.
"For a paper company in a failing industry it was incredibly stupid to have two people salaried in the same position," wrote u/Lanthemandragoran. "For the funnies it was a fantastic decision." Plenty of other comments seem to agree that there was little sense in deciding to make Jim and Michael co-managers. But perhaps Andy Buckley, who played David Wallace, can offer some insight into his character's decision-making.
In an interview with CinemaBlend, Buckley confirmed David ultimately thinks highly of Michael. In fact, it seems that Michael is a far more competent figure at Dunder Mifflin than David: "But I mean, my goodness, he was –- Steve [Carell] certainly -– but Michael is such a lovely guy, and he delivered the best results. I mean, that's why I had him into the office that one time, you know? 'What are you doing right?'" Based on what Buckley had to say, it helps recontextualize David's decision. It didn't take much convincing from Michael to make Jim co-manager because David held his opinion in high regard.
The co-manager arc lasts for 12 episodes, during which David confesses to Jim that Dunder Mifflin will be insolvent by year's end. Eventually, the company is sold to Sabre, and Jim returns to sales after discovering he could make more money there under the new regime. In retrospect, Wallace's decision may have been the flawed reasoning of an executive flailing to save a company and taking advice from the one guy who seemed to have everything figured out, at least in terms of the business.
