Being expert Vs gaining overall system knowledge

In summary, the speaker is working for a multinational engineering firm and is considering two options for their career path. They can either focus on becoming an expert in a specific area, such as aeromechanics, or gain a more general understanding of how different teams and components work together. The speaker is seeking advice on which path to choose, and has been told that it is easier for a specialist to become a generalist than the other way around. They are curious about the reasoning behind this.
  • #1
koolraj09
167
5
Hi all.
So I am working for a multinational firm doing an engineering analysis job. I have two options in for my career. My career started as an analyst and till some point of time, I guess it would be the same until after some years I would be going for maybe some leadership positions.
So there's this question that bothers me right now: I have opportunities to explore and work on projects with various teams related or non-related to my specific (future)work. So, should I select a path, say aeromechanics engineer and explore rotations in teams with this specific work profile so as to be tending to be an expert in this type of analysis/component ownership or should I go to get the overall system knowledge of how other teams (carrying out non related analysis, to me as of now) and gain an overall system level understanding how things work together, not getting into the very nitty-gritty, but so as to have enough knowledge so that after some time, I can grow much faster since I have system level knowledge and not many people have it?
 
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  • #2
I had this same question, and the answer I got was that a specialist can much more easily move into a more generalist position than the vice versa.
 
  • #3
Thanks Shaun!
Can you please elaborate more the reason as to why this happens?
 

Related to Being expert Vs gaining overall system knowledge

1. What is the difference between being an expert and gaining overall system knowledge?

Being an expert means having a deep understanding and extensive knowledge about a specific topic or field. On the other hand, gaining overall system knowledge means having a broad understanding of multiple topics or fields within a system.

2. Can someone be an expert without having overall system knowledge?

Yes, it is possible for someone to be an expert in a particular area without having overall system knowledge. They may have focused their studies and experience on a specific aspect of the system rather than the system as a whole.

3. Is it more beneficial to be an expert or to have overall system knowledge?

Both have their own benefits, but it ultimately depends on the specific situation and goals. Being an expert can lead to in-depth understanding and problem-solving in a specific area, while having overall system knowledge can provide a broader perspective and the ability to see connections between different areas.

4. How can one become an expert or gain overall system knowledge?

Becoming an expert or gaining overall system knowledge requires continuous learning and experience. This can be achieved through formal education, on-the-job training, self-study, and staying updated with the latest developments in the field.

5. Can someone be both an expert and have overall system knowledge?

Yes, it is possible for someone to have both expertise in a specific area and overall system knowledge. This can be achieved through a combination of focused study and experience in a particular area, as well as actively seeking out and learning about other areas within the system.

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