According to a 2014 EAB (Education Advisory Board) White Paper, some large companies are turning the search for well-roundedness into a formulaic process. Employers like IBM, IDEO, and Cisco are spearheading initiatives to hire what are being called “T-shaped professionals.” T-shaped professionals are said to possess soft skills or universal competencies (e.g., communication and collaboration skills) represented by the horizontal (“T-top”) and deep knowledge represented by the “T-stem.” Recognizing the importance of building out both dimensions of a student’s “T”, some universities are making T-shaping a central goal of their curricula.
Citation: Carla Hickman. “Creating T-Shaped Professionals.” EAB White Paper. Washington, D.C.: July 30, 2014.