Incompetence is the inability to perform; lack of competence; ineptitude. Aspects of incompetence include: Administrative incompetence, dysfunctional administrative behaviors that hinder attainment of organization goals Incompetence (law), the legal status of individuals not of sound mind or mentally impaired, unable to make decisions for themselves Military incompetence, failures of members of the military Social ineptitude Incompetence may also refer to: Incompetence (geology), Incompetence (novel), a comedy novel published in 2003 by Red Dwarf co-creator Rob Grant.