Abstract

Contemporary IT work increasingly requires professionals to combine deep expertise in a primary domain with the ability to collaborate and operate across complementary areas. This configuration is commonly described as T-shaped competence, integrating specialised depth with interdisciplinary breadth. This thesis examines how T-shaped competencies manifest in everyday IT practice across different roles. The analysis draws on empirical findings related to primary expertise, cross-domain engagement, collaboration patterns, and learning behaviours, with particular attention to role-dependent differences rather than a single ideal profile. The findings show that T-shaped competence is widely present in practice, even when the concept itself is not explicitly recognised. Professionals routinely engage beyond their core specialisation, rely strongly on experiential and self-directed learning, and adapt to interdisciplinary work demands. Based on these patterns, the thesis develops role-sensitive T-shaped profiles that illustrate typical depth–breadth configurations across selected IT roles. Rather than treating the T-shape as a prescriptive model, the study positions it as an analytical lens for understanding how competencies are combined in real work settings. These insights offer implications for organisational skill development and for higher education. …moreless