Laurence J. Peter Biography

Laurence J. Peter	Born: 1919-09-16 Birthplace: Vancouver, BC Died: 1990-01-12 Location of Death: Palos Verdes, CA Cause of Death: Stroke Race: White Field: Scientist Famous for: The Peter Principle
Field: Scientist

The Peter Principle is a theory originated by Dr. Lawrence J. Peter which states that employees within a hierarchical organization will advance to their highest level of competence, be promoted to a level at which they are incompetent, and then stay in that position. The theory was set out in a humorous style in the book referred to below.

Peter describes the theme of his book as hierarchiology. The central principle is stated in the book as follows:

In a Hierarchy Every Employee Tends to Rise to His Level of Incompetence.
Although written in a lighthearted manner, the book contains many real-world examples and thought-provoking explanations of human behaviour.

Similar observations on incompetence can be found in the Dilbert cartoon series (see The Dilbert Principle).