[rsp1984]

they tell you exactly what they want

Let me turn this around. I've run R&D at my startup for six years now. The #1 thing that sets apart a star engineer from an average one is the ability to work successfully during situations of incomplete information.

In other words, the star engineer already knows what to do, without me having to provide all the detail.

[econnors]

The subpar engineer is paralyzed by ambiguity; the excellent one thrives in it (provided the problem or objective is well defined).

[freyir]

If you're an R&D manager, you likely have much more latitude to rely on subordinates and not know what you want.