Expectations of role competence appear most problematic analytically, given the difficulty of specifying abstract standards of competence (particularly regarding esoteric or highly specialized roles) and of teasing out abuses of trust from mere differences in the talent or commitment of the agent. Here, I take a minimalist view, simply that the most basic rolespecific procedures-of science, medicine, law, pension fund management, auto repair, etc. -have been followed. For example, before a routine elective abortion is performed, a pregnancy test must be administered. Before corporate directors vote affirmatively on a $688 million takeover offer, they must make some inquiry about the company's worth or the fairness of the offer (Koenig 1985). If the role is a credentialed one, the norm requires that the agent have actually obtained the credentials legitimately. (Purchased degrees and fabricated licenses or certificates fall outside the ambit of trustworthy agency.) There is still plenty of leeway in the norm for errors, bad decisions, gratuitous surgery, botched repairs, inaccurate news reports, and audit failures to detect financial fraud, so long as agents conform with basic procedures.

DEFINE: The passage defines a minimalist notion of role competence: merely following basic procedures of the role (pregnancy tests, due inquiry before votes, legitimate credentials) rather than meeting abstract standards.

Shapiro, Susan P., The Social Control of Imper…, loc. 70