The Dilbert Principle

The Dilbert Principle refers the 1990s trend[?] of "idiots in management," a noticeable practice among companies that involved promoting their worst employees to management rather than allowing them to directly affect the consumer's product experience. It was coined and explained by opponent Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert, in a 1994 Wall Street Journal article. Adams expanded his study of the Dilbert Principle in a satirical 1996 book of the same name, which is now required reading at many management and business programs.

The Dilbert Principle is a deviation from the Peter Principle in that "the most ineffective workers are systematically moved to the place where they can do the least damage: management," rather than eventually rising to that level on merit.

References

The Dilbert Principle by Scott Adams, HarperBuisness 1996 ISBN 0-88730-858-9