Specialism

Specialism or specialization is the focus on a narrow area of knowledge or practice within a broader field. A specialist develops deep expertise in a particular domain, such as microbiology, civil engineering, or software architecture for a given technology. By contrast, a generalist maintains broader, less deep competence across several areas. Spelling varies by variety of English: specialisation (UK) and specialization (US). The concept also appears in economics, where it denotes the concentration of production or expertise in a limited scope to improve efficiency, often tied to comparative advantage.

Historically, specialization has grown with the expansion of education, professional licensing, and industrial production. Modern universities offer degree tracks and majors that route students toward specific specialisms, while professional training and residencies cultivate field-specific competence. In medicine, for example, physicians pursue specialties such as cardiology or psychiatry after general training; in industry, firms develop product or process specialization to differentiate offerings or improve performance.

Benefits of specialization include deeper knowledge, higher quality work, and the ability to tackle complex problems. Drawbacks can include reduced flexibility, greater dependency on a narrow market, and coordination costs in multidisciplinary settings. A balanced workforce often combines specialists with generalists or encourages cross-training to preserve adaptability and innovation.