FOCUS is an outgrowth of the IBM Corporation's pioneering work in the development of computer-based career and educational planning systems. The design team for the IBM systems consisted of the late Professor Donald E. Super of Columbia University as team leader, Professor Roger A. Myers also of Columbia University, Dr. David Tiedeman of Harvard University and Dr. David Campbell of the University of Minnesota. Dr. Frank J. Minor was the IBM Corporation project director. Together they developed the IBM Educational & Career Exploration System (ECES) for use by students, and the IBM Employee Development Planning System (EDPS) for use by adults in career transition.

FOCUS includes the positive design features and functions of these earlier IBM systems and draws upon the results of current career development research. FOCUS has been in use since 1990 in educational institutions, community and state career services agencies, and human resources management agencies. According to the National Association of Counselors and Employers, FOCUS is one of the three most widely used career planning systems in the USA. (NACE, Summer 2000 Journal of Career Planning & Employment, Page 46).

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