Quick to adapt to situations is one thing that is typical for SLI, however in the sense that these are the definitions of tactical and strategic:

Tactical types

1. Focus on methods, and manipulate them, with goals unsettled.
2. Goals are defined by, and modified to fit methods.
3. Prefers to expand options. Doesn't like to have too few of them.

Strategic types

1. Focus on goals, and manipulate them, with methods unsettled.
2. Methods are defined by, and modified to fit goals.
3. Prefers to defend goals. Doesn't like to be forced to deviate from them.

I would assume that IEEs are much more tactical and experimental, demonstrated by their advisory "I did it this way, and it worked" spirit, where as SLIs tend to search more for a main point and usually want to know what they're doing before they start doing it, and once they have the idea in mind, they dislike deviating from it (because they're probably frustrated that they had to figure it out in the first place, where as tactical types wouldn't assume something had to be "figured out". they just go with it, more or less.) So it's not necessarily that SLIs don't experiment, however they're inclined to want to figure out the goal ahead of time, sort of asking the question "well, why am I here?" And for me, even if it's obvious that someone needs my help, I don't get the point of just standing around waiting. If my time is being wasted, I always have to ask what is up. I think most SLIs aren't necessarily good with recognizing tactics. In a situation, they grasp what needs to be done, but they don't always know how to do it, and could use some friendly help. However in a contrasting situation, sometimes SLIs know exactly what needs to be done and they know exactly how to do it, and they're good at figuring it out before anyone else. I think anybody can be like this, depending on their strengths. SLIs can be pretty good at implementing certain tactics, especially if they are more accustomed to that specific knowledge, but I think what is suggested is that they don't readily recognize them in general.