The Dilbert Principle refers to a 1990s satirical observation stating that companies tend to systematically promote their least-competent employees to management, in order to limit the amount of damage that they're capable of doing. // Events and trends The 1990s are generally classified as having moved slightly away from the more conservative 1980s, but otherwise retaining a similar mindset. ... Satire is a literary technique of writing or art which exposes the follies of its subject (for example, individuals, organizations, or states) to ridicule, often as an intended means of provoking or preventing change. ... A company is, in general, any group of persons (known as its members) united to pursue a common interest. ...

The term was coined by Scott Adams, an MBA graduate from Berkeley and creator of the Dilbert comic strip. Adams explained the principle in a 1996 Wall Street Journal article. Adams then expanded his study of the Dilbert Principle in a satirical 1996 book of the same name, which is required or recommended reading at some management and business programs. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] The book has sold more than a million copies and was on the New York Times bestseller list for 43 weeks. Scott Adams (born June 8, 1957) is the creator of the Dilbert comic strip and the author of several business commentaries, social satires, and experimental philosophy books. ... University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (also known as Cal, UCB, UC Berkeley, The University of California, California, or simply Berkeley) is a public coeducational university situated east of the San Francisco Bay in Berkeley, California, overlooking the Golden Gate. ... Always Postpone Meetings With Time-Wasting Morons, an early Dilbert book Dilbert animated series, episode 212 Dilbert is a popular American comic strip. ... This article is about the comic strip, the sequential art form as published in newspapers and on the Internet. ... The Wall Street Journal is an influential international daily newspaper published in New York City, New York with a worldwide average daily circulation of more than 2. ... Satire is a literary technique of writing or art which exposes the follies of its subject (for example, individuals, organizations, or states) to ridicule, often as an intended means of provoking or preventing change. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Management (from Old French ménagement the art of conducting, directing, from Latin manu agere to lead by the hand) characterises the process of leading and directing all or part of an organization, often a business, through the deployment and manipulation of resources (human, financial, material, intellectual or intangible). ... Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a tertiary degree in business management. ...

Although academics may reject the principle's veracity, noting that it is at odds with traditional human resources management techniques, it originated as a form of satire that addressed a much-discussed issue in the business world. The theory has since garnered some support from business and management. For example, Guy Kawasaki of Apple Computer said: "There are two types of companies. Those that recognize that they are just like Dilbert and those that are also like Dilbert but don't know it yet." Organizational Studies (also known as Organizational Behavior) is a distinct field of academic study which takes as its subject organizations, examining them using the methods of economics, sociology, political science, anthropology, and psychology. ... Guy Kawasaki (born 1954) was one of the original Apple Computer employees responsible for marketing of the Macintosh in 1984. ... Apple Computer, Inc. ...

The Dilbert Principle is a variation of the Peter Principle. The Peter Principle addresses the practice of hierarchical organizations (such as companies and corporations) that use promotions as a way to reward employees that demonstrate competence in their current position. It goes on to state that, due to this practice, a competent employee will eventually be promoted to, and remain at, a position at which he or she is incompetent. The Peter Principle is a theory originated by Dr. Laurence J. Peter. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

See also

• Management
• Peter principle

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Management (from Old French ménagement the art of conducting, directing, from Latin manu agere to lead by the hand) characterises the process of leading and directing all or part of an organization, often a business, through the deployment and manipulation of resources (human, financial, material, intellectual or intangible). ... The Peter Principle is a theory originated by Dr. Laurence J. Peter. ... Image File history File links The_Dilbert_Principle. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... 2005 (MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 26 is the 177th day of the year (178th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 188 days remaining. ...

References

• The Dilbert Principle by Scott Adams, HarperBusiness 1996 ISBN 0-88730-858-9
• 2002 interview with Scott Adams, Funny Business, BizEd, The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, November/December
• Wall Street Journal, May 30, 1996, p. A11