HKSM
I-Shaped
A person with deep expertise in one specialty who shows little ability or interest in the broader set of skills the team needs; contrasted with T-Shaped and Broken Comb skill profiles.
Key Points
- Strong depth in a single discipline (the vertical stroke of the 'I').
- Minimal breadth across other functions needed by the team.
- Can deliver high-quality work in their niche but may create handoffs and bottlenecks.
- Often paired with T-Shaped or Broken Comb teammates to achieve cross-functionality.
Example
A data modeler on an agile team is exceptional at database schema design but does not take part in backlog refinement, API development, testing, or demo preparation. The team relies on others for those activities, illustrating an I-Shaped contributor.
PMP Example Question
On a Scrum team, a member is outstanding at performance testing but refuses to help with unit tests, documentation, or backlog refinement. What skill profile best describes this person?
- T-Shaped
- I-Shaped
- Cross-functional generalist
- Broken Comb
Correct Answer: B — I-Shaped
Explanation: An I-Shaped person has deep skill in one area with little breadth across other team needs, unlike T-Shaped or Broken Comb profiles.
