In brief:
If you need to hire an employee (or get a canine) for a specific role, then a specialist (pure breed) might suite you. However, in many cases, a "mongrel manager" will excel, because of multiple talents, diverse background, and thinking outside the silo.
Dog breeds. Picking the right one can be difficult. And it's the same with choosing a manager.
The problem
Dog breeds have been selectively bred over centuries to perform predictably and consistently.
Retrieving breeds like Labrador Retrievers will consistently fetch but never eat a bird. Guard dogs like the German Shepherd are always territorial and do not like to share. Scent breeds like Basset hounds will investigate any smell they come upon.
Obviously, if you need a dog for a specific purpose, you will search for the breed famed to fit your needs. You will find the best breeder with dogs of a long, pure, flawless lineage.
However, the story is quite different if you want a dog as a companion. You will want it to exhibit certain desirable behavioral patterns - to be calm and patient or playful and energetic. In reality, breed dogs will do what is in their nature. They will either chase cats, birds or other dogs, bark incessantly or disappear chasing some trail.
The solution:
Get a mixed breed (aka mongrel). These types of dogs can be a perfect companion because they carry a multitude of traits, none of which more dominant than the other. They can run well, but this is not their favorite pastime. They guard their home but not every object they encounter. Importantly, they will get along with your cat and your baby.
Here we draw the parallel with hiring specialized, one-track-minded staff. A hotel manager can be detrimental if all their life they've been an accountant. This person will not be as creative and will focus more on keeping costs low and not on guest satisfaction.
A team of researchers will be out of touch with deadlines, budgets and external relations if the members or their manager lack the life experience, outside focus or interdisciplinary skills.
The examples are endless. The conclusion is one- specialists best tackle special tasks. For everything else, there are people with complicated backgrounds and CVs that are hard to understand.
