Peter Principle
Noun · Slang & Abbreviations
Definitions
The idea that people in hierarchies may be promoted until they reach a role where they are no longer competent. In engineering slang, it appears when discussing management, titles, and the mismatch between technical skill and other job demands.
In plain English: The idea that people can be promoted past the level where they perform well.
Example: "The reorg conversation kept circling the Peter Principle because not every excellent engineer wanted or suited the people-management track they were being nudged toward."