Castles of competence

Authors: Elliott REW
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 29, Issue 5, pp 65-67, May 1981
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: General
Subject Terms: Veterinary profession
Article class: General Article

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Abstract: When we talk of a profession, we visualise a group of highly-skilled individuals, setting standards of competence for themselves, and demanding that those who want to join them must also meet and maintain those same standards. The traditional professions have had very little use for organisational or political skills. They consist of loose associations of individuals who share a common area of competence, but who are prepared to offer only tenuous loyalty to temporary leaders. They are bound by a common sense of owing service to society, but see this debt as better discharged by individual rather than group effort…

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