What are T-Shaped Skills?
They are the combination of deep expertise in a specific area with broader interdisciplinary skills.
Definition
T-Shaped Skills refer to the combination of deep expertise in a specific area (the vertical bar of the T) with broader interdisciplinary skills that enable effective collaboration across different fields (the horizontal bar of the T).
Significance
Professionals with T-Shaped Skills are highly valued for their ability to contribute both within their specialized area and in related fields, making them versatile and adaptable team members.
Origin
The concept was first introduced by David Guest in 1991 and popularized by Tim Brown, CEO of IDEO, as a way to build cross-disciplinary teams for creative processes.
McKinsey &x; Company
The concept was also used internally by McKinsey & Company in the 1980s, referred to as 'T-shaped man' for both men and women.
Application
T-Shaped Skills are particularly sought after in software development and are applicable to a wide range of industries where cross-disciplinary collaboration is essential.