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(I) and extroverted (E), intuitive (N) andsensing (S), thinking (T) and feeling (F),judging (J) and perceiving (P). The resultsof an MBTI test yield 16 combinationsof these characteristics, from ISTJ toENFP, that describe an individual’s think-ing style and temperament.

David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates fur-ther classify individuals as combinationsof NF, NT, SP, and SJ, based on psycho-analyst Carl Jung’s work on personalitytypes. Each classification indicates howa person sees the world.

Each person perceives and solves prob-lems based on temperament. MBTI co-designer Isabel Briggs-Myers suggestedthat people tend to make career choicesbased on their temperament. For exam-ple, an ISTJ is structured and rule-based,and thus might become an accountant, ahigh school principal, or a banker. AnENFP is relationship-oriented and likesto help people, and thus might become apsychologist.

PROGRAMMERS’ TEMPERAMENTSI have observed my colleagues who are

programmers to get some idea as to whattypes of temperaments they have. I sawthat there are no NF types among my col-

When I started in the ISindustry in 1969, com-panies hired recent college graduates ofabove-average intelli-

gence with degrees in any major ascomputer programmer trainees. Theywere given an aptitude test, whichwas used to predict which candidateswould make good programmers andthus should receive training.

I don’t recall that either the test orraw intelligence accurately predictedwho would become a good program-mer. I believe other predictors wouldbe better.

About 15 years ago, I stumbledacross the Myers Briggs TypeIndicator (MBTI), a popular psycho-metric instrument frequently used inworkplace diversity and sensitivityclasses given by many US humanresources departments. The MBTImay be the best predictor of who willbecome a competent programmer.

MBTIThe MBTI is a quickly adminis-

tered test that classifies the candidateon a continuum between introverted

leagues who have been software engi-neers for more than five years. Itappears that these types tend to havetrouble with the sequential andprocess-oriented thinking required todesign and implement software.

I also observed that most reallygood software engineers were ENTJ,INTJ, ESTJ, ISTJ, ISFJ, and ENTP. Inother words, they fall into Keirsey’sand Bates’ NT and SJ classifications.It appears this is the case because NTtypes tend to visualize the completedsolution to a problem, while SJ typestend to visualize the steps necessaryto implement the solution.

Admittedly, the sample size was notlarge—it included about 60 engineers.However, because of my observa-tions, I believe the MBTI is a validpredictor of who will become a goodprogrammer. This opinion has beenreinforced recently by personal con-tact with two NF types who want tobecome programmers. In my opinion,the candidates have trouble decom-posing problems to abstractions thatare solvable in a programming lan-guage. Both individuals are strugglingto master programming skills andmay not be successful. Maybe theycan learn the skills in spite of tem-perament. Time will tell.

Certainly there is a PhD candidatein research psychology some-where who is looking for a dis-

sertation topic. I believe it would beworthwhile to study the value ofusing the MBTI to predict who willbecome a successful programmer. Theissue warrants serious study, and theresults would be important to em-ployers looking for software engi-neers and to students looking forcareers. ❖

Contact the author at larry@birdsong.sunnyvale.ca.us.

Personality Typesand SoftwareEngineersLawrence T. Hardiman, Birdsong Co.

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“Any clod can have the facts, but having opinions is an art.”Charles McCabe, San Francisco Chronicle

Editor: Will Tracz, Lockheed Martin Federal Systems, MD 0210, Owego, NY 13827-3998; will.tracz@lmco.com

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