The Dilbert Principle – What is it?

Introduction

It may sound a bit sarcastic but there are many absurd things in business. Stupidity, dumbness, and foolishness are the order of the day, business as usual. It is part of it, even ensures progress, because others benefit by doing better.

But how is it possible if people work together they make so many blunders? Are managers really slackers, like in the Dilbert comics? And what is the Dilbert Principle anyway? Is the corporate world really so bizarre? Find out what is the Dilbert principle below.

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What is it?

According to Wikipedia: ‘The Dilbert principle refers to a 1990s theory by Dilbert cartoonist Scott Adams stating that companies tend to systematically promote their least-competent employees to management (generally middle management), to limit the amount of damage they are capable of doing’.

Not good doing actual work

Scott Adams explained it further as follows: “I wrote The Dilbert Principle around the concept that in many cases the least competent, least smart people are promoted, simply because they’re the ones you don’t want doing actual work.

You want them ordering the doughnuts and yelling at people for not doing their assignments—you know, the easy work. Your heart surgeons and your computer programmers—your smart people—aren’t in management. That principle was literally happening everywhere”.

So, let me get this, if you are really good at your job, according to this principle, you might not be promoted, just because you are really good at your job?! Sounds absurd, doesn’t it? It gets even worse.

The three absurdities of management

And here they are, the three absurdities of management: Dumbness, stupidity and foolishness. 

• Dumbness: you do not know what you have to do. 
• Stupidity: you know what to do but do something else. 
• Foolishness: you do something without knowing what you are doing. 

This is for real!

Make no mistake, this all occurs in many companies. And it happens much more often than it should. Managing is a complicated profession. You can not do it naturally. In private life, we can manage reasonably with the skills we have received going through childhood, but in the company, it is suddenly a bit more complicated.

Many goals

There are so many different goals to be realized. You must be reasonably understanding with others; you have to get ahead of yourself; you have to set the goals in order to realize the targets of the company; you have to keep an eye on the relations and you should not affront anybody; you should also listen to the customer. And you also have to take care of your private life, so that it is not compromised. 

Back to the Dilbert Principle

In the light of these absurdities Cartoonist Scott Adams’ associated comic strip “Dilbert” consistently ridicules the corporate world and the freakish characters who dwell there. In the 1990s, Adams developed his own satirical “Dilbert Principle” in response to the popularity of human resource dictums such as the “Peter Principle.”

While the Peter Principle holds that competent employees are routinely promoted until they reach a level of incompetence ( you can read all about this by clicking here), this principle suggests that incompetent employees are often promoted to management positions simply to prevent further damage in the working ranks.

Promotion

Under the Dilbert Principle, an incompetent software designer would be “promoted” out of his or her department in order to allow other competent designers an opportunity to work in peace, for example. The newly promoted manager would be able to fill his or her day by attending ineffectual meetings and composing mission statements, while the rank-and-file workers could get on with actual company business.

Critics

When the whimsical Dilbert Principle first appeared in print, most human resource and business organization experts considered it to be nothing more than a humorous take on the ruling management hierarchy theories.

It would make little sense for company leaders to deliberately promote their least-competent employees to managerial positions with major responsibilities. Promotions were intended to reward competent employees for their skills, not remove incompetent employees from the line of fire. This is how it should be or not?

Evolution

Over time, however, many of these same experts would come to see the hidden wisdom behind the Dilbert Principle. In many large corporations, it became apparent that certain upper management positions had become far removed from the day-to-day operations of the company. It was indeed feasible to promote incompetent employees out of a regular department and into ill-defined middle management positions in order to appease incensed customers, dissatisfied co-workers or frustrated supervisors.

Close to the truth

While the Dilbert Principle may have begun as a satirical whack at human resource practices, it has since become required reading in many business organization classes. The actual number of incompetent employees who have benefited from such promotions may always be a matter of dispute, but at least the corporate world does admit the Dilbert Principle is closer to the truth than first suspected.

Conclusion

So, what seemingly looked absurd in the beginning, has rapidly evolved into a harsh reality. ‘Unfortunately’ the Dilbert Principle is here to stay. Have you encountered this principle in your work environment? Please share your experience in the comment box below.

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