Incompetent professionals

Incompetent practitioners
Incompetent technicians
Incompetent tradespeople

Nature

The most rigorous examinations of a trained person's qualifications and competence occur at the beginning of their careers and rarely, if ever, again. Maintenance and upgrading of skills may be encouraged, but is largely optional. Professional associations which have the responsibility for overseeing standards, and dealing with complaints about individual practitioners, rarely take action to prevent that peron from practising. Professional success or reputation may be won more by personal charm, or by the simple market mechanism of supply and demand, or the inbuilt prejudices of the system, than by ability or character.

Background

The global significance of incompetent professionals emerged in the early 20th century, as industrialization and expanding public services exposed the risks of unqualified individuals in critical roles. High-profile failures in medicine, engineering, and law prompted international scrutiny, leading to the establishment of professional standards and regulatory bodies. Over time, recurring scandals and cross-border professional mobility have heightened awareness of the persistent and evolving challenges posed by incompetence within regulated and unregulated professions worldwide.

Incidence

Incompetent professionals are a persistent global concern, affecting sectors such as healthcare, engineering, education, and finance. Studies indicate that professional errors and malpractice contribute significantly to economic losses, diminished public trust, and, in severe cases, loss of life. Regulatory bodies worldwide report increasing complaints and disciplinary actions, highlighting the widespread nature of the issue across both developed and developing countries.
In 2022, the collapse of a newly constructed apartment building in Lagos, Nigeria, was attributed to engineering incompetence and inadequate professional oversight. The incident resulted in multiple fatalities and prompted a national review of professional certification and building standards.

Claim

Professional self-regulation is ineffective. It is usually the case that unfit practitioners first come to their attention of professional monitoring bodies when they are convicted by the courts or the subject of formal public complaint. Since only cases which suggest seriously poor performance attract the procedures of professional investigative bodies, the less serious, but nevertheless potentially disastrous cases remain.

Counter-claim

The notion that incompetent professionals are a significant problem is vastly overstated. In reality, most industries have robust checks and balances to weed out underperformers. Occasional mistakes are inevitable, but they rarely cause lasting harm. The obsession with professional competence distracts from more pressing societal issues. Frankly, the fear of incompetence is blown out of proportion and does not warrant the level of concern it currently receives. Let’s focus on real problems instead.