The technical professional advancement program. . . strengthening IBM, strengthening America

The IBM Technical Professional Advancement (TPA) program is discussed. TPA is a focused educational path designed to assist technical professionals in acquiring emerging new skills necessary to perform successfully in an evolving workplace, i.e., skills formerly and commonly associated with management development such as business acumen, interpersonal skills, leadership skills, and communication skills. The environment which precipitated TPA is discussed together with the design of TPA and the development of a curriculum to fulfill a TPA skills inventory.<>