Peter Principle

The theory that employees within an organization will advance to their highest level of competence and then be promoted to and remain at a level at which they are incompetent.

[After Laurence Johnston Peter (1919-1990).]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Peter Principle

the Peter Principle the theory, usually taken facetiously, that all members in a hierarchy rise to their own level of incompetence

[C20: from the book The Peter Principle (1969) by Dr. Lawrence J. Peter and Raymond Hull, in which the theory was originally propounded]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

Pe′ter Prin`ciple

a satirical observation that in any organizational structure people tend to be promoted until they reach their level of incompetence.

[from the title of a book by Laurence J. Peter (b. 1919), Canadian educator]

Mentioned in

hierarchy

References in periodicals archive

This brings us to the fabled Peter Principle, 'Managers rise to their level of incompetence', a satire which in our system becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Peter Principle and rise of incompetence

In 1969, the "Peter Principle" introduced by Laurence J.

Lady Gaga right to call social media 'toilet' of internet

Many of us have heard of the Peter Principle, a ground-breaking observation (that emerged from the 1969 book The Peter Principle by Dr.

Behaviors That Block Leadership Success

Maybe I'm the embodiment of what we used to call the Peter Principle, or maybe I lucked into a role that suits my particular skills and aptitude.

Party Like It's 1919

4 Who took the lead role in the sitcom The Peter Principle and played the title role in Channel drama Longford in October 2006?

BRAINTEASERS

But in Promotions and the Peter Principle (NBER Working Paper No.

The Peter Principle Isn't Just Real, It's Costly

We have confirmation from events last week that our secretary of foreign affairs has no idea what diplomacy is about As my friend Greg Macabenta puts it, na (Alan) Peter Principle si Cayetano.

Amateur hour at DFA

The former county boss was seen handing out an article from Forbes magazine about the 'Peter Principle', which states that, 'in a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence'.

Corridors of power

The Peter Principle holds that people are always promoted beyond their ability.

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Most people have heard of the Peter Principle. It says that we rise to our level of incompetence.

Challenged yourself lately? If you want to continue to grow, look for ways to stretch yourself

It established the Peter Principle (managers rise to the level of their incompetence).

ON THE CAMPAIGN COUCH WITH JB