Domain Dependence

Expertise and wisdom acquired in one domain fail to transfer to others — even when the underlying logic is identical. We are specialists who don't know we're specialists.

• A brilliant chess grandmaster makes mediocre financial decisions — the strategic thinking doesn't transfer.
• A highly successful banker who applies the same risk philosophy that worked in finance fails in personal relationships and health decisions.
• Executives who dominate one industry consistently underperform when they move to another — mastery is domain-specific.