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