Making sense software development personality types

N and T types are highly desirable for software Programming is an activity that demands logi- designers, whereas perceiving and feeling are cal, impersonal analysis. As Figure 3 shows, pro- only somewhat desirable. Ps would help reach grammers working with the specifications from the best, rather than the first, design solution. They might sometimes program in pairs or even within a team, but the core of Programming programming requires the ability to concentrate Programming involves translating a refined and work alone for many hours.

Given these version of the design into programs. Programmers Testing involves finding defects in software. First, scribes the way in which someone makes logical each module is isolated from other components decisions. The problem of interpreting and giv- in the system and tested individually. Such test- ing meaning to variables might be a headache, ing, known as unit testing, verifies that a module especially for F types rather than for detached functions properly with the various input ex- analytical, T types, suggesting that the program- pected and unexpected!

Moreover, specification. After collections of modules are programming tasks such as determining the de- unit-tested, the next step is to ensure that the tails of module logic, establishing file layout, and interfaces among them are well-defined—this is coding programs demand little interpersonal called integration testing. Mapping testers and their skills to personality types. In theory, sensing S and judging J people would be more successful in the testing phase.

Testing strategies are neither random nor hap- In general, an S person prefers to perform a hazard; rather, they should be approached in a me- task in a particular way because it has proven thodical and systematic manner. After a defect is to be successful in the past. Conversely, the N detected, debugging can be a frustrating and emo- person prefers to perform the task in a totally tionally challenging activity that can lead software different way because it has never been done in engineers to restructure their thinking and deci- that manner before.

Thus, Ns are likely to be sions. Testing requires attention to details and is bored with the incremental improvements and often performed by individuals working indepen- small fixes that software maintenance entails dently, and the pressure to meet deadlines and de- because they put more emphasis on new proj- liver the product is enormous.

Thus, precision S ects. S people prefer jobs that require the use of and order J are highly desirable traits. Main- range of possibilities and keeping an incredible de- tenance compels a thorough understanding gree of attention to detail. In theory, S and J people of the software system, especially in terms of would be more successful in the testing phase, as how one part can affect the other, thus S people illustrated in Figure 4.

Mapping maintainers and skills to personality types. Sensing S and perceiving P types are best suited to the detail-oriented tasks and constant changes inherent to software maintenance.

Figure 5 displays these A broad range of personality types is benefi- relationships, highlighting the qualities of soft- cial to software engineering. It might be advantageous for software ware life cycle model and proposes a framework organizations to consider employee strengths to conceptualize the points at which a particu- when assigning project tasks.

More than ever, lar personality type could have more effect. We software engineering needs a diversity of per- assume that system analysis, design, program- sonality types.

Putting it in a software context, a ming, testing, and maintenance are the stages diversity of skills and personality traits can solve occurring most often in well-accepted software the myriad problems associated with software life cycle models, despite some models not con- development and maintenance.

Organizations sidering a few of these stages or including oth- would benefit from a conscious attempt to diver- ers. Regardless of the model used, a particular sify the styles or personalities of their software personality dimension influences each of the five engineers because the strongest teams have the stages to some extent. The theory behind per- most diverse perspectives. Exposure to software sonality types implies that each one is likely to psychology can help this diversity flourish.

Myers et al. Acuna, N. Juristo, and A. Feldt et al. Table 2. The personality types with the strongest impact on the software life cycle. Workshop Cooperative and Human Aspect and software engineering education.

Capretz has a PhD in of Software Eng. He is a senior member of the IEEE, a distinguished 4. Walz and J. Comput- a Professional Engineer in Ontario Canada. Contact him er Information Systems, vol. Turley and J. Systems and Software, vol.

Kerth, J. Coplien, and J. Ahmed has a PhD 7. Educational Research, vol. He is a member of the IEEE. Contact him at , pp. Human-Computer Studies, vol. Barry, ed. In Software Engineering, personality traits have helped to better understand the human factor. In this chapter, the authors give an overview of important personality traits theories that have … Expand. Balancing the personality of programmer: software development team composition.

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The current era has been declared as technological era where both profit and no-profit organisations rely solely on software to cope with myriad issues they typically face. The growing demand for … Expand. WCI ' View 1 excerpt, cites methods. View 14 excerpts, cites background and methods. Personality Types And Software Engineers. Personality type, career preference and implications for computer science recruitment and teaching.

ACSE ' The aims of the paper are to identify Myers-Briggs Type Indicator MBTI personality attributes of computing professionals that are best suited to three major subtasks of computing — system analysis, … Expand. Emphasizing human capabilities in software development. Engineering, Computer Science. IEEE Software. Competencies of exceptional and nonexceptional software engineers.

Towards individualized software engineering: empirical studies should collect psychometrics. Personality types in software engineering. Implications of MBTI in software engineering education. Designing Job Descriptions for Software Development. Information Systems Development ISD progresses rapidly, continually creating new challenges for the professionals involved.

New concepts, approaches and techniques of systems development emerge … Expand.