[mdekkers]

Anecdotally, I was brought in to improve data processing for semiconductor manufacturing quality control. To say that wasn’t exactly my field is an understatement. Working with an amazing team that was open to change was a great experience and we managed to implement significant improvements for many aspects of the processes we looked at.

[svnt]

I think there is a critical balance between education and experience where a person has both sufficient capability and (critically) interest in using it, that enables this sort of thing.

Of course it also requires the opportunity to improve something, which is not universally present. Often the opportunities to improve stem from a recent change in organizational priorities, or the prior party’s lack of interest (instrinsic motivation) or incentive (extrinsic motivation), not necessarily their specialization or lack of understanding.