Expert Witness Syndrome

Topic

Expert witness syndrome is a business and product management concept coined by entrepreneur Mark Pincus to describe a organizational dynamic where individual contributors in the trenches are closest to the data and the right answer, yet are furthest from the actual decision-making power. In this scenario, contributors are called upon to passionately present their findings to executives (the "adults") and are then excused, leaving them to deal with the consequences of decisions made by others. This dynamic frequently serves as a primary motivator for highly skilled technical contributors to leave established companies and become startup founders.