Experts are good in designing and executing plans so that processes become faster, better or cheaper. An Expert analyses every situation separately. Experts want to know precisely what is expected of them: how much more or faster the company wants to produce, what precisely has to be improved and what the budget is. All these specifications provide the Expert with the certainty he/she needs.
Junior ExpertThe Junior Expert starts in this position, in principle, after completing minimal a higher level of professional education (HBO, hoger beroepsonderwijs).
The Junior Expert deals with practical matters and minor jobs creatively and energetically. Consults others about practical and theoretical situations. Demonstrates a lot of commitment, curiosity and dedication. Deals with the emotions of others well, accepts and demonstrates that he/she can learn from feedback.
The employee takes responsibility for the final result, but doesn’t quite yet have the full confidence of others to carry out tasks or parts of tasks with total independence.
The Junior Expert doesn’t yet have a complete overview of their work. He or she doesn’t see much coherence yet between what they do, the entire task and the client’s needs. Because their overview is incomplete, the Junior Expert doesn’t always have his or her priorities right and the approach to projects is not always systematic. However, they do generally organise the time available to them well.
Medior ExpertUndertakes tasks/projects with little risk independently and successfully. Makes good on agreements in respect of turnaround, costs, productivity and quality. Draws attention to problems and offers good, well-considered advice.
Understands the most important methods/techniques in a field of higher professional education as well as the latest theoretical insights, so that difficulty problems/tasks can be dealt with. Analyses problems methodically, which leads to the right approach and results. Supervises the execution of the task and the required results; works towards them systematically.
Is, however, still mainly focussed on their own approach and less on the needs of the client. Can work well with colleagues in other disciplines to achieve the common goal. Asks perceptive questions, is open to feedback and can adjust their judgement in the light of new information.
Is curious and enthusiastic, accepting challenging tasks in order to learn from them. Wants to learn from feedback, and wins the trust of others with, amongst other things, commitment and how they tackle work.
Core ExpertThe Core Expert can independently carry out a wide range of concrete, operational tasks within a specialist field. To do so, the employee must have successfully completed minimal a higher level of professional education (HBO, hoger beroepsonderwijs).
The operational work that a Expert deals with cannot be described as routine like that of an All rounder, Skilled Worker or Assistant. Firstly, research has to be undertaken. Experts are able to make an analysis based on specific information that they have collated, to draw conclusions from that analysis and to make a decision in respect of the best solution for the problem being addressed, generally solving it quickly.
The Expert can undertake a variety of work methodically and systematically. He or she can be broadly deployed and they supervise the entire process, so that they not only focus on the specific issue, but they also take into account the causes of the problem and/or the factors affecting the final result.
This is directly related to maintaining control over the process. Maintaining control means that the employee has complete control over the final result. In order to exercise this control, however, the employee has to have a proactive attitude. They have to be able to anticipate the consequences of things before they become unavoidable problems.
Mastery
The employee can make adjustments to systems. The work therefore demands a broad knowledge of a specialist field, so that the specified final result can be achieved in the form of a project or projects methodically. A higher level of professional education (HBO, hoger beroepsonderwijs) is a minimal prerequisite.
Autonomy
The work consists of research into the actual circumstances in which a problem has arisen. Analysing information and drawing up a project, production or treatment plan are important aspects of his or her responsibilities. The employee is free to choose their own approach insofar as it delivers the specified final result.
Impact
Consultation about difficult, exceptional issues is required, within or outside of the company. This consultation concerns the specifics and execution of concrete tasks, research and/or projects in order to precisely ascertain what the required final results are. This may involve conflicting interests, such as in buying and selling, for example.
Ownership
The work consists of new, concrete products based on specifications (functional design) provided by Professionals. It can be summarised as a production process that satisfies productivity, quality and financial objectives. Process optimisation also makes up part of the employee’s responsibilities. The results of the work, task or project have to satisfy precisely defined specifications.
Master ExpertA Master Expert exercises authority acquired from his or her ability to bring clarity to exceptionally complex, operational situations. He or she has command of the entire range of options, sees overlaps with other relevant subjects and developments, ensures cohesion and decides what the best solution is.
The Master Expert’s authority means that he/she is sought by employees because of his/her expertise that he/she is prepared to apply and share for the common good. In this respect, the Master is ‘independent’ of those around him or her, while for them, the opposite is true: they are dependent on him/her.
This means that the Master Expert has to know all the ins and out of his or her field and is exceptionally interested in new developments and how they can be applied in the organisation. This interest is reflected in the responsibilities they have in respect of company business development, instruments and/or systems.
The Master employee is at the end of his or her learning pathway for their field. He or she has taken the ultimate step in their career, so that they can operate at higher problem-solving level than their immediate colleagues.
Exceptional willpower is required to reach the end of the learning pathway. A Master Expert is, however, more vulnerable, precisely because of this position. That willpower is rewarded, not only with the trust that colleagues place in him or her, but also from those who work at a higher practical and intellectual level in the company.
Mastery
Not only is a higher level of professional education (HBO, hoger beroepsonderwijs) minimal required for this position, the employee has to work at a higher practical and intellectual level, whereby extremely complex, but nonetheless operational problems have to be solved within his or her specific field. These are problems where many, extremely diverse aspects have to be balanced against each other. It demands a helicopter view in order to decide on the best solution.
Autonomy
An extremely high degree of independence, knowledge and authority is required in order to focus multi-facetted issues. This understanding has to be applied to supply those responsible for policy with the correct information and to optimise processes.
Impact
The Master actively shares his or her knowledge with others. He/she helps them to find the right solutions and to organise work more efficiently. The Master also advises clients and/or those responsible for policy about the concrete execution of work and/or organising systems, as well as advising them about the consequences of certain decisions and what is possible, and what not. (If applicable:) Initiates collaboration between various similar production teams.
Ownership
The employee is responsible for solving concrete, operational problems. Responsible for resolving issues when it concerns projects aimed at business development: the process optimalisation of his/her own team or the production teams that fall under their responsibility. Responsible for the implementation of policy.