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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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”

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

8. 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”

9. 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?

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

11. 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

12. 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 

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. Thank you