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Expert System

Back, Introduction, Situation Analysis, Instructions, Technical Background

Leader Expertise

Definition

If a decision is significant or important (i.e., has consequences for customers or stakeholders other than the group whose involvement is under consideration), it is necessary for the decision process to incorporate the information or knowledge needed to anticipate these consequences. This situational factor pertains to whether you, as a leader, possess the knowledge and expertise necessary to process it.

Note that your expertise should be judged in relation to this specific problem, not generally for all of the problems that you might encounter. For example, even though you are highly experienced in your job, you may encounter a decision problem which you do not understand and for which you do not have the relevant expertise.

In judging your knowledge, do not consider that which is "unknowable" as, for example, in decisions in which uncertainty or risk is inherent. This situational factor pertains to your knowledge in relation to that which is realistically attainable.

A judgment of High or Probably High concerning your expertise does not necessarily mean that you, at this moment in time, have all of the specific information required to make the decision. Such judgments would also be appropriate if you understand the problem, understand the information that is needed, and have the ability to collect and process it.

If you are reasonably confident that you have or can generate a satisfactory solution to the problem without consulting group members, select High or Probably High. If you are unclear about your knowledge, select Uncertain, and select Low or Probably Low if you believe your knowledge to be inadequate.

Examples

High
  1. You must pick two individuals from a group that you know very well to perform a very special assignment.
  2. You are an entrepreneur with a spectacular record of making wise investments. You have an opportunity to acquire a new software firm. You know the cost, know what you can raise from a venture capital firm, and have a strong conviction about how long it will take the firm to repay your investment.
Low
  1. New machines which have been purchased to increase productivity have had the opposite effect. You are puzzled about the cause of this unexpected effect and do not know what to do.
  2. From a background in Wall Street, you have recently accepted a position as dean of the business school. Before you have had a chance to get accustomed to this different world, you are informed in a meeting with students that there are serious problems with the curriculum.