Scott Adams (1957-)

Scott Adams is the creator of the Dilbert comic strip and "The Dilbert Principle":

"Companies tend to systematically promote their least-competent employees to management (generally middle management), in order to limit the amount of damage they are capable of doing."

Jim Hacker in "Yes, Prime Minister" is a good example.

Here are some of Adams' quotes:

• Needing someone is like needing a parachute. If they are not there the first time you need them, chances are you won't be needing them again.
• Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.
• The best way to compile inaccurate information that no one wants is to make it up.
• Decisions are made by people who have time, not people who have talent.
• Engineers like to solve problems. If there are no problems handily available, they will create their own problems.
  [It's also true when you read "Engineers" as "Managers"]
• Informed decision-making comes from a long tradition of guessing and then blaming others for inadequate results.
• We must develop knowledge optimization initiatives to leverage our key learnings.
• Be careful that what you write does not offend anybody or cause problems within the company. The safest approach is to remove all useful information.