The DOI matches its Crossref record; 266 of the 266 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Reconsidering the Trade-off Between Expertise and Flexibility: a Cognitive Entrenchment Perspective
Abstract
Research suggests that as one acquires domain expertise, one loses flexibility with regard to problem solving, adaptation, and creative idea generation. Here, I reconsider this trade-off between expertise and flexibility by examining the concept of cognitive entrenchment—a high level of stability in one's domain schemas. Proposing that cognitive entrenchment varies not only with expertise but also with one's task environment and attentional focus, I contend that the inflexibility-related limitations of expertise can be circumvented.
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“In contrast, the constant repetition of cognitive structures such as methodological templates can entrench us (for a summary, see Dane, 2010).”
BackgroundRothman, N. B., Pratt, M. G., Rees, L. L., & Vogus, T. J. (2017) · Academy of Management Annals · doi:10.5465/annals.2014.0066 · Cited by 393
“the core of adaptive action are especially critical (Dane, 2010), and thus where ambivalence – adding positive thoughts and emotions to the negative – may be particularly beneficial.”
Metadata
- Authors
- Dane, E.
- Affiliations
- Rice University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Dane, Erik
- ORCID
- Dane, Erik
- Venue
- Academy of Management Review
- Publisher
- Academy of Management
- Published
- 2010-10
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 579-603
- ISSN
- 0363-7425 (ISSN-L)
- 1930-3807
- OpenAlex
- W2058398044
- Cited by
- 603
- References
- 263
- Citations by year
- 2026: 27 · 2025: 38 · 2024: 49 · 2023: 56 · 2022: 60 · 2021: 52 · 2020: 81 · 2019: 40 · 2018: 36 · 2017: 34 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 30 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 11.17
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Academy of Management Review (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Innovation and Knowledge Management
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Management and Organizational Studies
- Keywords
- expertise, cognitive flexibility, problem solving, creative idea generation, task environment, attentional focus, cognitive inflexibility
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- Dane, E. (2010). Reconsidering the Trade-off Between Expertise and Flexibility: a Cognitive Entrenchment Perspective. Academy of Management Review. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.35.4.zok579
