Defining and Identifying Expertise: A Model for Better Governance Using ExpertNet

Founded in 2012, Governance Lab (GovLab) is an action research center seeking new ways to solve complex public problems facing governments and nonprofit organizations. “Enhanced Expertise Identification” is one such method, now in its infancy as a field. GovLab requested a Capstone team to determine the essential components of a successful expertise identification system for NYU that could also be used in collaboration with the LivingLabs project and the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Conceived as ExpertNet, the pilot launched at NYU in the spring, drawing from sources and comparable projects across the country that redefined expertise as more than credentials or lengthy curriculum vitae. The Capstone team compiled research from first-hand interviews, case studies, online investigation, extensive literature review, and behavioral science methodology to produce a public e- Resource of outcomes and recommendations for use by GovLab and external stakeholders.