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Like technologies and products, one can become knowledgeable and proficient in using a particular process discipline.
sity, challenge yourself to become an expert in one or more of these defined roles.
Types of experts
Anytime during your career, but particu- larly early in your career, you should strive to become an expert. What does this mean? Within the technology field, there are three typical ways to become an expert:
1. Develop the KSAs associated with a specific technology. Most of us with engineering, computer sci- ence, mathematics or other science backgrounds are detail-oriented. This orientation serves us well in working with technologies and related technol- ogy-based products. So being an expert here involves developing a deep under- standing of the underlying technology and, if product-related, the implementa- tion and use of that product for a cus- tomer. Some of you may even have the innate talent to advance a subject area
through original research or innovation.
2. Develop the KSAs associated with a specific process discipline. The use of modern process disciplines is critical to success for organizations that use technology. These disciplines include project and program manage- ment (and their sub-disciplines), agile and DevOps for the development of systems, or ITIL to support the field- ing of IT systems and their support in operations. Additionally, in cybersecu- rity, there are process disciplines relat- ed to areas such as risk management, cyber operations and cyber forensics. Like technologies and products, one can become knowledgeable and proficient in using a particular process discipline.
3. Apply technology-based solu- tions to address specific business challenges. For many in our field, assuming a role that uses a technolo- gy-based product, service or process to support a customer is a form of exper- tise. And this does not apply to just
technologists. Some top salespeople are experts at identifying how a spe- cific technology-based product or ser- vice can best support a customer. Some- times, it is the analyst on a project who is the key, the one able to serve as the liaison between a customer and a tech- nical project team. Therefore, expertise is not just about the advancement of technology or a process, but also about the correct application of technology to address business challenges.
After earning my undergraduate degree in electrical engineering, I joined SRA International. I was impressed with the knowledge and achievements of those with whom I interviewed and felt drawn to the company. I started in a small organization at SRA that was developing wide-area network optimi- zation algorithms. At that time, it was a crucial discipline, given the relatively modest bandwidth capabilities of the telecommunications systems along with their high cost. It was essential to use
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