Expertise evaluation: a dimensional framework for broad-based theory building

Expertise evaluation – the interpersonal assessment of others’ domain-specific knowledge, skills, and abilities – is a critical mechanism for leveraging knowledge in organizations. Despite its importance, research on expertise evaluation is fragmented across disciplines, plagued by construct proliferation, and hampered by inconsistent terminology, limiting cumulative theory building. To address this challenge, we synthesize operationalizations from 105 articles and propose a three-dimensional framework that captures core assumptions underlying expertise evaluation: Verification Level (the degree to which the interpersonal evaluation is corroborated by a direct assessment of the target's expertise), Reference Explicitness (the degree to which the frame of reference for the evaluation is made explicit), and Degree of Interdependence (the degree to which the evaluation is seen as a socially constructed process whereby evaluators influence each other's assessment). This framework provides a common language for scholars, clarifies conceptual tensions, and enables examination of temporal, contextual, and interactive relationships among dimensions. By situating expertise evaluation within this multidimensional space, we advance theory development, improve construct accuracy, and offer practical guidance for designing evaluation systems that enhance the utilization of expertise in organizations.