Professional Engineering Judgment and Decision Making in engineering education Lincoln Wood FIEAust National Manager Accreditation Professional Standards and Practice 8 September 2018

judgment vs decision Judgment The capacity to form an opinion objectively, authoritatively, and wisely, in matters requiring action Decision The action following judgment, according to the prevailing instance Judgment is principles-based, and can be applied to a range of instances Decision is the operationalisation of judgment to a particular instance

How experts make decisions Two distinct types of mental processes are used by experts when making decisions: Subconscious, intuitive, automatic type of decision making based on pattern recognition in information, continuously matched to the context of the engineering task – it is fast, frugal and efficient Conscious, analytical, logical and deductive approach – it is slower, thoughtful and consumes a large proportion of the brain’s mental capacity

How experts make decisions Individual decisions are usually reached by a combination of each, according to: the complexity of the situation the experience/expertise of the professional An expert can move effortlessly across the full cognitive spectrum This can be represented in a diagram Adapted from: Clinical decision making: how surgeons do it Wendy Crebbin, Spencer W. Beasley and David A. K. Watters, ANZ J Surg 83 (2013) 422–428

Professional judgment and decision Cognitive spectrum Analytical Subconscious Knowledge base Information interpretation Pattern recognition Experience base Decision Information processing Working concepts Task information * * Beware of bias in pattern recognition Adapted from: Clinical decision making: how surgeons do it Wendy Crebbin, Spencer W. Beasley and David A. K. Watters ANZ J Surg 83 (2013) 422–428

Professional judgment and decision Cognitive spectrum Analytical Subconscious Knowledge base Information interpretation Pattern recognition Experience base Decision Information processing Working concepts Task Information A “molecule of judgment”

Expertise is built on a sequence of “molecules of judgment” … throughout a career

Continuing sequences of a professional “drumbeat” The DNA of expertise Continuing sequences of Knowledge Experience Reflection Expertise Intertwining threads of analytical knowledge and experience, mediated by critical reflection, growing judgment and expertise a professional “drumbeat”

But how to establish this as a professional habit? This “drumbeat” will ideally commence in the education curriculum, developing early career competencies But how to establish this as a professional habit?

Forming valid professional patterns Cognitive spectrum Analytical Subconscious Knowledge base Information interpretation Experience base Decision Information processing Working concepts Task information Pattern recognition

Pattern recognition & schemas A schema is a cognitive framework (abstract mental structure) that aids the interpretation and organisation of information Schemas (or schemata): direct the attention of the learner shape interpretation of information facilitate automation of information processing reject “noise” in information may be resistant to change Some of these features, described as ‘compression into archetypes’, are observed in AI deep learning networks

Priming professional schemas Deliberate attention to priming styles (schemas) of: thinking (e.g. abstraction, analysis, synthesis & invention) working (e.g. systematic, thorough, trusted) learning (e.g. curiosity, cognition, metacognition) Shapes both: attentive information processing subconscious memory formation Embedded by cognate experiences Refinements, or even new schemas, may result Intended outcome is habituation of professionalism 

Facilitating formative experiences in professional education Systems for managing professional work - documented work practices and procedures that facilitate the orderly management of the professional task Professional communications - focussed on engineering information to enable decisions Modelling of professional behaviours - constructive role models of professional behaviour Constraints of commerce - inclusion of other business functions of the enterprise team Experiences “in the wild” - intrusion of uncontrolled inputs and disturbances

On being a professional: identity, meaning and dignity Identity – formed by our past Meaning – shaped by how we conceive the future Dignity – identity and meaning overlap in the present, shaping how we act (make decisions) - critically influenced by values, incorporates professional ethics

More than knowledge On being an engineer Student engineers need more than knowledge, but also formative experiences of how engineering professionals: think, work, learn … throughout a career develop professional judgment use judgment to make decisions, ethically earn the trust of all stakeholders On being an engineer

Thank you