Originally intended as a satire, The Peter Principle, published in 1969, made a valid point about employee capability, or lack thereof, in a hierarchical business structure.

The argument being that, employees tend to rise to their level of incompetence.

An employee, competent in their current role, may be considered for promotion. They then prove equally competent in their new role, and are subsequently considered for promotion to the next tier.

This process rinses and repeats until, eventually, the employee is promoted to a role where they are no longer effective. Whether through lack of skills, training or merely out of their depth, the employee has now reached their level of incompetence, and is no longer as effective as in previous roles.

Stuck in their current position, with no up, no down, no sideways, and not quite incompetent enough for dismissal, the employee’s inadequacy can have a detrimental effect on the business’ interests.

Know anybody who fits that description?