Technology readiness level (TRL)
A 9-level scale, borrowed from aerospace, that gives objective criteria for how mature a capability is (from TRL 1, basic principles, to TRL 9, proven in production) and makes each pipeline handoff a checkable event rather than a hopeful lob over a wall.
Defined in 2 GAGE programs, which carry 2 distinct definitions of it. The wording above is taught in Certified AI Transformation Professional (CATP).
How each discipline defines it
The same term does different work depending on who is using it. These are the definitions as each program teaches them, unedited.
A nine-step readiness scale used in some engineering fields, notably aerospace and defense procurement, to mark a technology's progress from basic principles observed through to flight-proven or field-proven status. This topic's three-band established, emerging, and speculative spectrum serves the same evaluative purpose in a simpler form; recognizing the term helps you translate a supplier's or funder's TRL language into this topic's vocabulary.
A 9-level scale, borrowed from aerospace, that gives objective criteria for how mature a capability is (from TRL 1, basic principles, to TRL 9, proven in production) and makes each pipeline handoff a checkable event rather than a hopeful lob over a wall.
Where it is taught
The exact lessons this term appears in. The first module of every program is free with a free account.
- Innovation Management and R&D Strategy · Measure, Sustain and Evolve, Certified AI Transformation Professional (CATP)
- Biohybrid and self-repairing robots · Frontier and Future Horizons, Engineering Judgment and Professional Formation
Where it shows up at work
A definition is where Technology readiness level (TRL) starts. The lessons above teach it inside the competencies below, which are what job descriptions ask for and what the GAGE credential records. Every link here is drawn from the same careers map that builds a role's readiness check.
Decides where AI should be used, where it should not, and which use cases create measurable value, tied to the organization's priorities.
One lesson on this page teach it as a primary outcome.
Builds an honest value model: baseline, measured change, cost, risk, and the projects that should be stopped.
One lesson on this page teach it as a primary outcome.
Knows why rollouts stall, separates a skills problem from a trust problem, builds champion networks, and measures adoption honestly.
One lesson on this page teach it as a primary outcome.
Roles that hire for it
Each role page shows the full competency set, what the seat decides, and a readiness check against your own evidence.
- Chief AI Officerneeds it at depth
- Chief Information Officer, technology leadership editionneeds it at depth
- AI Adoption and Enablement Leadneeds it at depth
- Operations Manager, AI-readyneeds working knowledge
- Chief Technology Officer, AI engineering editionneeds working knowledge
- AI Program Managerneeds working knowledge · 11 open postings this week
How job descriptions say it
Postings rarely use the textbook word. These are the phrases the careers map reads as asking for the competencies above.
One interview question about it
Fifty AI ideas are on the table. How do you pick the three worth doing, and how do you say no to the rest?
Asked of candidates for ai strategy and opportunity triage. Answering it in your own words is exactly how a GAGE topic is passed, and the credential records the pass where an employer can check it.
If you come from another field
Some backgrounds already carry this competency, and the readiness check gives credit for it.
- A business, MBA or technology management degree carries it as a claim to back up: Strategy and opportunity triage are the core of the degree.
- Human resources and people operations carries it as a claim to back up: Change programs run through HR.
- Project and program management carries it as a claim to back up: Rollout and adoption planning are usually included.
Terms it appears with
Not an alphabetical neighbourhood: these are the terms taught in the same lessons, ranked by how often they appear together.