In order to ensure the best people are making decisions, the fear of failure has to be removed.

In so many business cultures, people will go to inordinate lengths to cover up the fact they made a mistake.
My father used to say the only person who never made a mistake never did anything.
If that is true, you have to get used to the fact that you will be offered more responsibility until you start to make too many mistakes.
At that point, if you are honest with yourself and your employer (and vice-verse) you will both agree to reduce responsibilities to a level you are competent to handle.
In this way, you are performing at your maximum. Your employer should be happy and you should be happy.

Of course I'm just dreaming here, but wouldn't it be nice?

Best
Les

The Peter Principle is a serious flaw inherent in capitalism. You want people who work to their potential for the satisfaction of doing the job as well as they can. But the reward offered is financial, so people are often attracted to the job for the financial rewards moreso than the satisfaction of performing their best. They're in it for a paycheck. That's the problem the Peter Principle illustrates, people are interested in the promotion rather than the job. The converse is also true when you hire a contractor based on price. You're hiring based on the paycheck, not the satisfaction of receiving the craftsmanship involved in the job.

At least that's my take from observations, I haven't read the book.

If anyone doubts the Peter Principle, just look at the airline biz.

Taz - it isn't just Capitalism. Look at the former Soviet Union and it's satellites. Worked the same way.

Certainly it isn't just capitalism, nor does that flaw ruin capitalism's functionality, but capitalism does tend to direct one's focus on the reward rather than appreciation for the task at hand, often resulting in a willing misapplication of the merit system.

I'll have to think about that. FWIW, I push for T&M contracts because that is the theoretical lowest price the job can be done for and the owner can terminate the contract at any time. Seems like everyone wins.

:D . . .but we can't talk about the Elephant (and Donkey) in the room here. ;)