Comments on: Better to be a Generalist or Expert? http://ericbrown.com/better-to-be-a-generalist-or-expert.htm Technology, Strategy, People and Projects Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:27:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Know When You Suck http://ericbrown.com/better-to-be-a-generalist-or-expert.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1536 Know When You Suck Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:24:33 +0000 http://ericbrown.com/better-to-be-a-generalist-or-expert.htm#comment-1536 [...] one of biggest issues higher management has to face when they get their promotions – they become generalists, they want it or not. However it really doesn’t matter if you’re an expert in one area or jest [...] [...] one of biggest issues higher management has to face when they get their promotions – they become generalists, they want it or not. However it really doesn’t matter if you’re an expert in one area or jest [...]

]]> By: windrogue http://ericbrown.com/better-to-be-a-generalist-or-expert.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1618 windrogue Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:09:26 +0000 http://ericbrown.com/better-to-be-a-generalist-or-expert.htm#comment-1618 I was named a generalist by Bob Morris, the manager for the manufacturing engineering dept, at Coherent Laser's Medical Division, in Palo Alto, late summerof 1983.<br>I was in the asile between cubicals talking to a co-worker, when Bob rushed up towards us, saying as he came towards us.<br>"Dane, when I hired you, I had 250 resume's on my desk, and it didn't matter how I shuffled or sorted them, your's came to the top. I had degree's up the wazoo, but only in their own field."<br>"Why is that Bob" I asked.", and he answered, "Because you are a generalist, you have electronics, mechanics, clerical, accounting, production control, drafting, computer, and purchasing experience, and you are the only person who could do the job."<br>My task was to author a proposal for the policy manual, on process. In other words to construct a guideline to computerize input throughout the company from a paper entry system, which ment to gather pertinent criteria from each department, to effectively enter their specific data, in a format that could be formalized and entered into page format data that could be computer organized and sorted as required, to produce work in process, work station job packages, containing all the needed information, a worker needed to complete the specific task. (tooling, specific process and tracking data, blue prints, routing, parts list, assembly order, torque specs, test specs, performance specs, as the specific process needed.)<br>I trained all departments into the proposed system and had it accepted on the second revision with some minor clerical correctons in 3 months.<br>I am currently an FAA licensed aircraft inspector, working across the USA and Canada on contract, because I make more than is usually offered, in a white collar job shop contract environment, mostly because of the available overtime and the availability of contracts. However I take contracts of interest when available, like in December of 1987, when I started as a Sr Buyer at Rockwell Science Center, their pie in the sky up on the hill research and development facility overlooking an aroyo in Thousand Oaks California because I had 6" silicon wafer processing experience on my resume from Airco Temiscal in Berkeley 5 years earlier. A senior scientist needed a certain piece of equipment to etch circuits of a certain resolution, and they needed someone to see if there was any used equipment on the market to meet his budget restrictions which were about 10% of what was required.<br>I do not have any specific degree's, but a lot of backroom hands on experience in shops in aerospace, computer manufacturing, automotive repair, plastic injection molding, electronics assembly, either as a tech or a clerk in large manufacturing companies where I worked in different departments on loan, and know what is needed to meet the needs of my employer to deliver what the costomer wants, need, and ordered, albeit with numerous queries, corrections, explanations, phone calls and other expeditious tasks to get the job done. <br>I am currently trying to earn enough monies to complete and restore my twin engine six place Piper Seneca one aircraft to rent out to prospective commuter pilots who need 200 logged hours to meet insurance requirements to get hired with airlines, and I will do the required inspections and repairs in a semi retired position. I was named a generalist by Bob Morris, the manager for the manufacturing engineering dept, at Coherent Laser's Medical Division, in Palo Alto, late summerof 1983.
I was in the asile between cubicals talking to a co-worker, when Bob rushed up towards us, saying as he came towards us.
“Dane, when I hired you, I had 250 resume's on my desk, and it didn't matter how I shuffled or sorted them, your's came to the top. I had degree's up the wazoo, but only in their own field.”
“Why is that Bob” I asked.”, and he answered, “Because you are a generalist, you have electronics, mechanics, clerical, accounting, production control, drafting, computer, and purchasing experience, and you are the only person who could do the job.”
My task was to author a proposal for the policy manual, on process. In other words to construct a guideline to computerize input throughout the company from a paper entry system, which ment to gather pertinent criteria from each department, to effectively enter their specific data, in a format that could be formalized and entered into page format data that could be computer organized and sorted as required, to produce work in process, work station job packages, containing all the needed information, a worker needed to complete the specific task. (tooling, specific process and tracking data, blue prints, routing, parts list, assembly order, torque specs, test specs, performance specs, as the specific process needed.)
I trained all departments into the proposed system and had it accepted on the second revision with some minor clerical correctons in 3 months.
I am currently an FAA licensed aircraft inspector, working across the USA and Canada on contract, because I make more than is usually offered, in a white collar job shop contract environment, mostly because of the available overtime and the availability of contracts. However I take contracts of interest when available, like in December of 1987, when I started as a Sr Buyer at Rockwell Science Center, their pie in the sky up on the hill research and development facility overlooking an aroyo in Thousand Oaks California because I had 6″ silicon wafer processing experience on my resume from Airco Temiscal in Berkeley 5 years earlier. A senior scientist needed a certain piece of equipment to etch circuits of a certain resolution, and they needed someone to see if there was any used equipment on the market to meet his budget restrictions which were about 10% of what was required.
I do not have any specific degree's, but a lot of backroom hands on experience in shops in aerospace, computer manufacturing, automotive repair, plastic injection molding, electronics assembly, either as a tech or a clerk in large manufacturing companies where I worked in different departments on loan, and know what is needed to meet the needs of my employer to deliver what the costomer wants, need, and ordered, albeit with numerous queries, corrections, explanations, phone calls and other expeditious tasks to get the job done.
I am currently trying to earn enough monies to complete and restore my twin engine six place Piper Seneca one aircraft to rent out to prospective commuter pilots who need 200 logged hours to meet insurance requirements to get hired with airlines, and I will do the required inspections and repairs in a semi retired position.

]]> By: windrogue http://ericbrown.com/better-to-be-a-generalist-or-expert.htm/comment-page-1#comment-346 windrogue Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:09:26 +0000 http://ericbrown.com/better-to-be-a-generalist-or-expert.htm#comment-346 I was named a generalist by Bob Morris, the manager for the manufacturing engineering dept, at Coherent Laser's Medical Division, in Palo Alto, late summerof 1983.<br>I was in the asile between cubicals talking to a co-worker, when Bob rushed up towards us, saying as he came towards us.<br>"Dane, when I hired you, I had 250 resume's on my desk, and it didn't matter how I shuffled or sorted them, your's came to the top. I had degree's up the wazoo, but only in their own field."<br>"Why is that Bob" I asked.", and he answered, "Because you are a generalist, you have electronics, mechanics, clerical, accounting, production control, drafting, computer, and purchasing experience, and you are the only person who could do the job."<br>My task was to author a proposal for the policy manual, on process. In other words to construct a guideline to computerize input throughout the company from a paper entry system, which ment to gather pertinent criteria from each department, to effectively enter their specific data, in a format that could be formalized and entered into page format data that could be computer organized and sorted as required, to produce work in process, work station job packages, containing all the needed information, a worker needed to complete the specific task. (tooling, specific process and tracking data, blue prints, routing, parts list, assembly order, torque specs, test specs, performance specs, as the specific process needed.)<br>I trained all departments into the proposed system and had it accepted on the second revision with some minor clerical correctons in 3 months.<br>I am currently an FAA licensed aircraft inspector, working across the USA and Canada on contract, because I make more than is usually offered, in a white collar job shop contract environment, mostly because of the available overtime and the availability of contracts. However I take contracts of interest when available, like in December of 1987, when I started as a Sr Buyer at Rockwell Science Center, their pie in the sky up on the hill research and development facility overlooking an aroyo in Thousand Oaks California because I had 6" silicon wafer processing experience on my resume from Airco Temiscal in Berkeley 5 years earlier. A senior scientist needed a certain piece of equipment to etch circuits of a certain resolution, and they needed someone to see if there was any used equipment on the market to meet his budget restrictions which were about 10% of what was required.<br>I do not have any specific degree's, but a lot of backroom hands on experience in shops in aerospace, computer manufacturing, automotive repair, plastic injection molding, electronics assembly, either as a tech or a clerk in large manufacturing companies where I worked in different departments on loan, and know what is needed to meet the needs of my employer to deliver what the costomer wants, need, and ordered, albeit with numerous queries, corrections, explanations, phone calls and other expeditious tasks to get the job done. <br>I am currently trying to earn enough monies to complete and restore my twin engine six place Piper Seneca one aircraft to rent out to prospective commuter pilots who need 200 logged hours to meet insurance requirements to get hired with airlines, and I will do the required inspections and repairs in a semi retired position. I was named a generalist by Bob Morris, the manager for the manufacturing engineering dept, at Coherent Laser's Medical Division, in Palo Alto, late summerof 1983.
I was in the asile between cubicals talking to a co-worker, when Bob rushed up towards us, saying as he came towards us.
“Dane, when I hired you, I had 250 resume's on my desk, and it didn't matter how I shuffled or sorted them, your's came to the top. I had degree's up the wazoo, but only in their own field.”
“Why is that Bob” I asked.”, and he answered, “Because you are a generalist, you have electronics, mechanics, clerical, accounting, production control, drafting, computer, and purchasing experience, and you are the only person who could do the job.”
My task was to author a proposal for the policy manual, on process. In other words to construct a guideline to computerize input throughout the company from a paper entry system, which ment to gather pertinent criteria from each department, to effectively enter their specific data, in a format that could be formalized and entered into page format data that could be computer organized and sorted as required, to produce work in process, work station job packages, containing all the needed information, a worker needed to complete the specific task. (tooling, specific process and tracking data, blue prints, routing, parts list, assembly order, torque specs, test specs, performance specs, as the specific process needed.)
I trained all departments into the proposed system and had it accepted on the second revision with some minor clerical correctons in 3 months.
I am currently an FAA licensed aircraft inspector, working across the USA and Canada on contract, because I make more than is usually offered, in a white collar job shop contract environment, mostly because of the available overtime and the availability of contracts. However I take contracts of interest when available, like in December of 1987, when I started as a Sr Buyer at Rockwell Science Center, their pie in the sky up on the hill research and development facility overlooking an aroyo in Thousand Oaks California because I had 6″ silicon wafer processing experience on my resume from Airco Temiscal in Berkeley 5 years earlier. A senior scientist needed a certain piece of equipment to etch circuits of a certain resolution, and they needed someone to see if there was any used equipment on the market to meet his budget restrictions which were about 10% of what was required.
I do not have any specific degree's, but a lot of backroom hands on experience in shops in aerospace, computer manufacturing, automotive repair, plastic injection molding, electronics assembly, either as a tech or a clerk in large manufacturing companies where I worked in different departments on loan, and know what is needed to meet the needs of my employer to deliver what the costomer wants, need, and ordered, albeit with numerous queries, corrections, explanations, phone calls and other expeditious tasks to get the job done.
I am currently trying to earn enough monies to complete and restore my twin engine six place Piper Seneca one aircraft to rent out to prospective commuter pilots who need 200 logged hours to meet insurance requirements to get hired with airlines, and I will do the required inspections and repairs in a semi retired position.

]]> By: windrogue http://ericbrown.com/better-to-be-a-generalist-or-expert.htm/comment-page-1#comment-358 windrogue Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:09:26 +0000 http://ericbrown.com/better-to-be-a-generalist-or-expert.htm#comment-358 I was named a generalist by Bob Morris, the manager for the manufacturing engineering dept, at Coherent Laser's Medical Division, in Palo Alto, late summerof 1983.<br>I was in the asile between cubicals talking to a co-worker, when Bob rushed up towards us, saying as he came towards us.<br>"Dane, when I hired you, I had 250 resume's on my desk, and it didn't matter how I shuffled or sorted them, your's came to the top. I had degree's up the wazoo, but only in their own field."<br>"Why is that Bob" I asked.", and he answered, "Because you are a generalist, you have electronics, mechanics, clerical, accounting, production control, drafting, computer, and purchasing experience, and you are the only person who could do the job."<br>My task was to author a proposal for the policy manual, on process. In other words to construct a guideline to computerize input throughout the company from a paper entry system, which ment to gather pertinent criteria from each department, to effectively enter their specific data, in a format that could be formalized and entered into page format data that could be computer organized and sorted as required, to produce work in process, work station job packages, containing all the needed information, a worker needed to complete the specific task. (tooling, specific process and tracking data, blue prints, routing, parts list, assembly order, torque specs, test specs, performance specs, as the specific process needed.)<br>I trained all departments into the proposed system and had it accepted on the second revision with some minor clerical correctons in 3 months.<br>I am currently an FAA licensed aircraft inspector, working across the USA and Canada on contract, because I make more than is usually offered, in a white collar job shop contract environment, mostly because of the available overtime and the availability of contracts. However I take contracts of interest when available, like in December of 1987, when I started as a Sr Buyer at Rockwell Science Center, their pie in the sky up on the hill research and development facility overlooking an aroyo in Thousand Oaks California because I had 6" silicon wafer processing experience on my resume from Airco Temiscal in Berkeley 5 years earlier. A senior scientist needed a certain piece of equipment to etch circuits of a certain resolution, and they needed someone to see if there was any used equipment on the market to meet his budget restrictions which were about 10% of what was required.<br>I do not have any specific degree's, but a lot of backroom hands on experience in shops in aerospace, computer manufacturing, automotive repair, plastic injection molding, electronics assembly, either as a tech or a clerk in large manufacturing companies where I worked in different departments on loan, and know what is needed to meet the needs of my employer to deliver what the costomer wants, need, and ordered, albeit with numerous queries, corrections, explanations, phone calls and other expeditious tasks to get the job done. <br>I am currently trying to earn enough monies to complete and restore my twin engine six place Piper Seneca one aircraft to rent out to prospective commuter pilots who need 200 logged hours to meet insurance requirements to get hired with airlines, and I will do the required inspections and repairs in a semi retired position. I was named a generalist by Bob Morris, the manager for the manufacturing engineering dept, at Coherent Laser's Medical Division, in Palo Alto, late summerof 1983.
I was in the asile between cubicals talking to a co-worker, when Bob rushed up towards us, saying as he came towards us.
“Dane, when I hired you, I had 250 resume's on my desk, and it didn't matter how I shuffled or sorted them, your's came to the top. I had degree's up the wazoo, but only in their own field.”
“Why is that Bob” I asked.”, and he answered, “Because you are a generalist, you have electronics, mechanics, clerical, accounting, production control, drafting, computer, and purchasing experience, and you are the only person who could do the job.”
My task was to author a proposal for the policy manual, on process. In other words to construct a guideline to computerize input throughout the company from a paper entry system, which ment to gather pertinent criteria from each department, to effectively enter their specific data, in a format that could be formalized and entered into page format data that could be computer organized and sorted as required, to produce work in process, work station job packages, containing all the needed information, a worker needed to complete the specific task. (tooling, specific process and tracking data, blue prints, routing, parts list, assembly order, torque specs, test specs, performance specs, as the specific process needed.)
I trained all departments into the proposed system and had it accepted on the second revision with some minor clerical correctons in 3 months.
I am currently an FAA licensed aircraft inspector, working across the USA and Canada on contract, because I make more than is usually offered, in a white collar job shop contract environment, mostly because of the available overtime and the availability of contracts. However I take contracts of interest when available, like in December of 1987, when I started as a Sr Buyer at Rockwell Science Center, their pie in the sky up on the hill research and development facility overlooking an aroyo in Thousand Oaks California because I had 6″ silicon wafer processing experience on my resume from Airco Temiscal in Berkeley 5 years earlier. A senior scientist needed a certain piece of equipment to etch circuits of a certain resolution, and they needed someone to see if there was any used equipment on the market to meet his budget restrictions which were about 10% of what was required.
I do not have any specific degree's, but a lot of backroom hands on experience in shops in aerospace, computer manufacturing, automotive repair, plastic injection molding, electronics assembly, either as a tech or a clerk in large manufacturing companies where I worked in different departments on loan, and know what is needed to meet the needs of my employer to deliver what the costomer wants, need, and ordered, albeit with numerous queries, corrections, explanations, phone calls and other expeditious tasks to get the job done.
I am currently trying to earn enough monies to complete and restore my twin engine six place Piper Seneca one aircraft to rent out to prospective commuter pilots who need 200 logged hours to meet insurance requirements to get hired with airlines, and I will do the required inspections and repairs in a semi retired position.

]]> By: Jim Smith http://ericbrown.com/better-to-be-a-generalist-or-expert.htm/comment-page-1#comment-357 Jim Smith Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:14:37 +0000 http://ericbrown.com/better-to-be-a-generalist-or-expert.htm#comment-357 Doesn't anyone find it odd that there are no specialists chiming in here? Perhaps the generalists are the only ones who see any value in their work. FWIW, here is the actual, unabridged definition of each (plus one other): Generalist - someone who isn't particularly good at anything and therefore greatly underestimates the requirements, ultimately leaving the job unfinished. Specialist - someone who only wants to work on the "fun stuff" and whose devotion to fulfilling this end is paramount, ultimately leaving the job unfinished. Trenchworker - someone who hammers out a meager living by cleaning up the mess that constantly rains down the cracks. See 'generalist' and 'specialist' for details. Doesn’t anyone find it odd that there are no specialists chiming in here?

Perhaps the generalists are the only ones who see any value in their work.

FWIW, here is the actual, unabridged definition of each (plus one other):

Generalist – someone who isn’t particularly good at anything and therefore greatly underestimates the requirements, ultimately leaving the job unfinished.

Specialist – someone who only wants to work on the “fun stuff” and whose devotion to fulfilling this end is paramount, ultimately leaving the job unfinished.

Trenchworker – someone who hammers out a meager living by cleaning up the mess that constantly rains down the cracks. See ‘generalist’ and ’specialist’ for details.

]]> By: Computer Software » Blog Archive » Know When You Suck http://ericbrown.com/better-to-be-a-generalist-or-expert.htm/comment-page-1#comment-356 Computer Software » Blog Archive » Know When You Suck Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:09:26 +0000 http://ericbrown.com/better-to-be-a-generalist-or-expert.htm#comment-356 [...] one of biggest issues higher management has to face when they get their promotions – they become generalists, they want it or not. However it really doesn’t matter if you’re an expert in one area or jest [...] [...] one of biggest issues higher management has to face when they get their promotions – they become generalists, they want it or not. However it really doesn’t matter if you’re an expert in one area or jest [...]

]]> By: Pawel Brodzinski http://ericbrown.com/better-to-be-a-generalist-or-expert.htm/comment-page-1#comment-355 Pawel Brodzinski Tue, 05 Feb 2008 21:06:13 +0000 http://ericbrown.com/better-to-be-a-generalist-or-expert.htm#comment-355 I generally agree with your point. There's place for both. None of them is better overall although there are places where you're sure you want to see one type. Having said that I don't think it's a real problem which way to go - either way you'll find your place. I think the more important thing is how fast you gain experience. If you constantly work on getting more experience (doesn't matter if that means digging deeper in one place or going further to dig another hole) you will be considered as a good professional. When you just wait for better days to come doing nothing to move from the place you stuck you don't give yourself a chance to move your career step ahead. No matter if you preferred to be a generalist or a specialist. I generally agree with your point. There’s place for both. None of them is better overall although there are places where you’re sure you want to see one type.

Having said that I don’t think it’s a real problem which way to go – either way you’ll find your place. I think the more important thing is how fast you gain experience. If you constantly work on getting more experience (doesn’t matter if that means digging deeper in one place or going further to dig another hole) you will be considered as a good professional.

When you just wait for better days to come doing nothing to move from the place you stuck you don’t give yourself a chance to move your career step ahead. No matter if you preferred to be a generalist or a specialist.

]]> By: Eric Brown http://ericbrown.com/better-to-be-a-generalist-or-expert.htm/comment-page-1#comment-354 Eric Brown Sun, 03 Feb 2008 21:42:47 +0000 http://ericbrown.com/better-to-be-a-generalist-or-expert.htm#comment-354 Thanks JP. I completely agree...in the world of IT these days it is very good to know the various areas of the space to better understand the 'big picture'. Thanks JP. I completely agree…in the world of IT these days it is very good to know the various areas of the space to better understand the ‘big picture’.

]]> By: JP http://ericbrown.com/better-to-be-a-generalist-or-expert.htm/comment-page-1#comment-353 JP Sat, 02 Feb 2008 17:25:20 +0000 http://ericbrown.com/better-to-be-a-generalist-or-expert.htm#comment-353 A co-worker of mine made a comment about this topic the other day. Apparently, at IBM where he worked they wanted to see people who had a recognizable career path and didn't want to hire anyone who seemed to come from multiple IT disciplines. I guess at the time and for him, "A jack of trades, and master of none" was not acceptable. It seemed that IBM thought you had not found what you were looking for and one only stay around for a few years. I actually disagreed with his and IBM's view. I think having varying perspectives is very valuable. If you have a career path working in different areas of IT, I think it adds to the overall value. The lines between systems, network, security, and other areas continue to blur. A good understanding of them all makes someone well rounded in their craft verses someone who only sees a issue from one angle. A co-worker of mine made a comment about this topic the other day. Apparently, at IBM where he worked they wanted to see people who had a recognizable career path and didn’t want to hire anyone who seemed to come from multiple IT disciplines. I guess at the time and for him, “A jack of trades, and master of none” was not acceptable. It seemed that IBM thought you had not found what you were looking for and one only stay around for a few years.

I actually disagreed with his and IBM’s view. I think having varying perspectives is very valuable. If you have a career path working in different areas of IT, I think it adds to the overall value. The lines between systems, network, security, and other areas continue to blur. A good understanding of them all makes someone well rounded in their craft verses someone who only sees a issue from one angle.

]]> By: Eric Brown http://ericbrown.com/better-to-be-a-generalist-or-expert.htm/comment-page-1#comment-352 Eric Brown Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:41:20 +0000 http://ericbrown.com/better-to-be-a-generalist-or-expert.htm#comment-352 Andrew - excellent points. When i used the word 'better', I should have explained that I meant it in the sense of a person's view for their career. Neither option is 'better' than the other in the eyes of another...only in your own eyes and what you want to do with your career. Andrew – excellent points.

When i used the word ‘better’, I should have explained that I meant it in the sense of a person’s view for their career. Neither option is ‘better’ than the other in the eyes of another…only in your own eyes and what you want to do with your career.

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