T-shape explained.
T-shaped professionals typically have depth of skill in at least one discipline and one service system. In addition, say authors Yassi Moghaddam, Charlie Bess, Haluk Demirkan, and Jim Spohrer, "They are also broad in that they can collaborate effectively with others who are deep in other areas to innovate, co-create, and solve today's complex problems. The horizontal bar includes competencies such as project management, organizational design, communication, critical thinking, teamwork, networks, commitment to lifelong learning, and, above all, empathy." Over time, they say, "with more T-shaped individuals in the organization, IT executives can successfully drive business transformation efforts that shift the role of IT from the cost centers of the past, which were designed for enterprise efficiency, to the profit centers of the 21st century, which are designed to drive revenue and growth and differentiate the organization in the marketplace."
* Excerpted from "How to Thrive as IT Professionals in a Converging ICT World," (
) Cutter IT Journal, Vol. 27 No. 3