Judgement

In the phrase “professional judgement”, this modern term stands for the professional ability to judge or discern and has become an established expression in many fields – in the auditing field it has even become an examination subject for professional certification. Stemming originally from England, the country with one of the oldest legal systems in Europe and with a terminology that has therefore developed differently, “judgment” means the power of discernment and the ability to administer justice.

In order to remain discerning and to be able to evaluate or judge things, several qualities are required: intellectual maturity, profound knowledge and life experience. Or, to put it in more modern terms: integrative thinking, know-how and social skills. Thus professional judgement means considering and analyzing a specific problem or situation by taking into account a wide range of different influencing factors. It implies the constant realization that no two situations in life are exactly the same. This is a way of looking at things that goes far beyond a standardized, subject-specific approach. The inclusion of context and the ability to think with the future in mind are of great value, for example, when evaluating business results and potential developments.