Its not unusual for us to make horizontal career moves. They may be a good strategy for a variety of reasons, the best of which is to gain knowledge and skills that will lead to your upward goal. If your company is in a slow growth mode and promotions are stagnant, then a lateral move might better position you for your next promotion. Kelly Eggers has a good blog on risk and reward considerations for this decision.
A few of my considerations to start with are:
Does it help you reach your ultimate goal? (You do have one, right?)
Does it build your skill and competencies set? Not only do we need to keep our tech skills up-to-date, but also broaden our biz and industry knowledge. This contributes to our abilities to use sound judgment and make better decisions that affect not only our careers (company), but our families and communities.
Does it help balance your work/life quality?
Does it make sense on your resume by adding breadth of knowledge and skills, as well as contributing to your accomplishment portfolio?
Will it expand your professional network? Never underestimate the value of the network; it’s not just for job hunting. We reach out to people with different viewpoints to gain clarity and information in our daily work.
Many people have successfully used lateral moves to re-energize their careers. Some make a geographical (even global) move that has enriched their lives. So it helps to look at all facets of a lateral option, and not make a snap decision based on the emotion of the moment.