Specialization tends to reduce range
Specialization (and especially “overspecialization”) without range leads to narrow-mindedness and decreased innovation and ability to solve wicked problems.
…highly credentialed experts can become so narrow-minded that they actually get worse with experience, even while becoming more confident—a dangerous combination.
…increasing specialization has created a “system of parallel trenches” in the quest for innovation. Everyone is digging deeper into their own trench and rarely standing up to look in the next trench over, even though the solution to their problem happens to reside there.[1]
Epstein observes that narrow specialization is the opposite of the greatest strength of the human mind: the ability to integrate.
Our greatest strength is the exact opposite of narrow specialization. It is the ability to integrate broadly.[2]
See also:
- Lateral thinking is range in action
- Superforecasting is the intersection of range and mindset
- Wicked problems are difficult or impossible to solve
Source: Range – Epstein (2019) § “Introduction”; the second quote is attributed to an “internationally renowned scientist.” ↩︎
Range – Epstein (2019), ch. 1. ↩︎