Laurence J. Peter
This celebrity goo was created by Scott Hardie.
This goo was worth a point in April 2026.
publication date: Monday, April 27, 2026 (part of April 2026)
category: 
Education
clue: This Canadian professor took a principled stance against the promotion of incompetent employees.
explanation: Peter is best known for The Peter Principle, in which he (in a book co-authored with Raymond Hull) observed that competent employees kept getting promoted until they were no longer competent, resulting in companies where every management position was occupied by someone incompetent to manage. The idea caught on in popular culture and influenced corporate philosophy. more…
intended difficulty: medium
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, Samir Mehta, and Richard Slominsky
Similar Goos
Ernest Green
Being the first of nine to graduate in your little town doesn't sound like much of an achievement, but his involved an intervention by the President and the National Guard. Go »
Joe Clark
Even if you don't know the answer, you should still take a swing at it. Go »
Jaime Escalante
By all calculations, this Bolivian teacher delivered real results for his underprivileged students. Go »
Jill Ker Conway
This accomplished feminist educator came to Massachusetts by way of Australia. Go »
Noam Chomsky
Studying the phrasing of this clue could give you a hint, as long as you don't read too much into it. Go »
