POSITION REFERENCE GUIDE
IBM Internal Use Only
FACTORS: BAND 06
(Focuses on Individual/Team
Objectives and Developing
Professional Effectiveness)
Professional knowledge related
SKILLS: to incumbent’s position, team,
Environment and department. Requires ability
to absorb professional
knowledge quickly and develop
skills.
Draws upon professional
Communication/ concepts to collaborate with
Negotiation others to carry out assigned
duties.
Negotiation is required.
Provides advice to management.
Recognizes job-related problems
Problem Solving involving multiple variables that
may be related and/or unrelated.
Analyzes causes using existing
techniques or tools.
Prepares and recommends
solution alternatives.
Recommendations need not be
final.
Challenges the validity of given
procedures and processes with
the intent to enhance and
improve.
Develops resolution to problems
of limited scope. Independently
handles non-routine
actions/problems.
FACTORS: BAND 06
October 2018
BAND 07
(Focuses on Individual/Team/
Department Operational
Objectives)
Professional knowledge related
to incumbent’s department or
function.
Engaged as an independent
professional. Ability to
articulate and compare
alternative approaches.
Negotiates with specified
objectives.
Recognizes problems related to
project objectives.
Applies creativity and
judgment to professional,
technical, or operational
problems.
Independently generates
solutions, based on analytical
skills and business knowledge.
Challenges the validity of given
procedures and processes to
enhance and improve or
develop complementary
adjustments/ solutions.
POSITION REFERENCE GUIDE
IBM Internal Use Only
BAND 07
BAND 08
(Guides Functional Objectives or
Technologies)
Professional knowledge related
to incumbent’s
function/business unit and its
processes.
Advises other professionals.
Effectively utilize group
dynamics.
Negotiates to define approaches
and goals.
Recognizes complex problems
related to functional objectives.
Applies creativity and
judgment to developmental
work on different projects
within the business
environment.
Analyzes situations and
implement solutions, or
develop new system elements,
procedures or processes.
BAND 08
BAND 09
(Influences Functional Strategy)
Professional knowledge of
function, business unit or
country operations.
Understands organizational
resources, priorities, needs and
policies.
Guides other professionals.
Adapt communications and
approaches to conclude
negotiations with various
partners resulting in common
agreements.
Analyze complex/new
situations, anticipate potential
problems and future trends,
assess opportunities, impacts
and risks.
Develops and implements
solutions.
BAND 09
BAND 10
(Leads Functional/Business
Unit Strategies)
Business unit, country, or
international professional
mastery related to
operations, strategies, and
objectives in leading edge or
critical situations.
Teamwork at the highest
levels.
Plans and conducts complex
negotiations reaching lasting
agreements and
commitments.
Anticipates, creates and
defines innovative and
visionary concepts in a
strategic environment.
BAND 10
CONTRIBUTION / Works on professional level
LEADERSHIP projects; work is often
reviewed for developmental
purposes. Contributions are
usually limited to
assignment related activities.
Understands the standard
mission of the professional
group and vision in own area
of competence.
May directly influence
people in own project.
Investigates and resolves
issues on behalf of
management.
Position may require
coordination of activities of
less experienced or less
knowledgeable team
members.
FACTORS: BAND 06
IMPACT ON Accountable for individual or
BUSINESS/SCOPE team results.
May contribute by supporting
activities that are subject to
business measurements,
impact customer satisfaction,
or impact immediate costs or
expenses.
October 2018
Works on special projects,
or leads small teams, or
manages routine
technical/operational
activities or departments
(national or international).
Understands departmental
mission and vision.
Provides advice in
technical/operational domain
of specialization.
Generally controls own
work priorities and methods
requiring tradeoffs.
POSITION REFERENCE GUIDE
IBM Internal Use Only
BAND 07
Accountable for individual,
team, or department results,
and for the impact of the
results on functional
activities.
Contributes by supporting
activities that are subject to
business measurements,
impact customer satisfaction,
or impact immediate costs or
expenses.
Provides ongoing
technical/operational
guidance to lead professional
work teams, conducts special
projects, or manages
department(s) (national or
international).
Understands department/
functional mission and vision.
Utilizes expertise to directly
influence people outside
department or function.
Sometimes no precedent
exists.
Defines and decides
objectives within specified
business concept or project
and may have responsibility
for tools and assigned
resources.
BAND 08
Accountable for department
results and for activities
and/or projects involving
multi-functional teams.
Activities are subject to
business measurements,
impact customer satisfaction,
and impact project costs or
expenses.
Leads multi-functional
teams, or conducts special
projects, or manages
department(s).
Has vision of functional or
unit mission.
Influences people and
organizations, including
executive management,
when issues are
complex/difficult and require
considerable diplomacy.
Recognized as an expert in
their field. Often no
precedent exists.
Has considerable latitude in
responsibilities to define and
decide on tools, processes,
priorities and resources
following general business
unit directives.
BAND 09
Accountable for projects or
programs involving multi-
functional, country-wide or
regional teams.
Activities are subject to
business measurements,
impact customer satisfaction,
and impact functional,
business unit, or country
costs or expenses.
Leads business unit, country,
or international teams,
conducts special projects, or
manages functions or strategic
departments.
Has vision of overall
strategies.
Recognized as an expert and
leader by members of a field,
related functions and multi-
country organizations.
Develops and implements
product, market, business, or
technology strategies with
executive review. Contributes
to policy making.
BAND 10
Accountable for business unit,
major country, or international
projects or programs.
Responsible for committing
multiple resources and
achieving customer
satisfaction, cost, expense,
revenue and other business
measurements of critical
 importance.
May have budgetary
responsibility.

Participates in overall Regularly participates in Responsible for overall Responsible for quality
departmental program overall functional program functional program success. output/value add for highly
planning. planning. visible products, services and
future business development.

Regularly demonstrates Regularly demonstrates Regularly demonstrates Regularly demonstrates Regularly demonstrates
discretion and independent discretion and independent discretion and independent discretion and independent discretion and independent
judgment in matters of judgment in matters of judgment in matters of judgment in matters of judgment in matters of
significance to IBM. significance to IBM. significance to IBM. significance to IBM. significance to IBM.

October 2018