The Soft Side of Software
Engineering - Part I
Type and Temperament
Todd Little - INTJ
Individual Personality Types
– Psychological type is a theory of
human personality developed by
Swiss psychiatrist Carl G. Jung (18751961). He observed that human
behavior is not random, but instead
follows identifiable patterns.
Meyers - Briggs
 Introduced the MyersBriggs Type Indicator
(MBTI) sorter
David Keirsey
•Introduced the relationship
of Temperament to Type.
•OpenSourced the Test
and the Answers
•Web enabled it
Beware of the Stereotype
"…one can never give a description of a type, no
matter how complete, that would apply to more
than one individual, despite the fact that in some
ways it characterizes thousands of other .
Conformity is one side of man, uniqueness is the
other.”
Carl Gustav Jung
Why Understand Personality Type?
Individual Personality Types
 Why worry about Type?
 The point is that people are different from
each other, and that no amount of getting
after them is going to change them.
 Nor is there any reason to change them,
because the differences are probably good,
not bad.
Individual Personality Types
– People are different in fundamental ways. They
want different things; they have different motives,
purposes, aims, values, needs, drives, impulses,
urges. Nothing is more fundamental than that.
They believe differently; they think, cognize,
conceptualize, perceive, understand, comprehend,
and cogitate differently. And of course, manners of
acting and emoting, governed as they are by wants
and beliefs, follow suit and differ radically among
people.
Individual Personality Types
– These basic differences concern the way people
prefer to use their minds, specifically, the way they
perceive and the way they make judgments.
Perceiving is here understood to include the
processes of becoming aware of things, people,
occurrences and ideas. Judging includes the
processes of coming to conclusions about what has
been perceived. Together, perception and judgment,
govern much of an individual’s behavior.
Understanding Type Can be Useful to
Individuals and Teams
 Understand interpersonal dynamics
 Tasks team members tend to prefer to do
 Tasks team members tend to avoid
 Team diversity to achieve better solutions
 Communication effectiveness
 Potential areas of weakness
 How individual members experience stress
 Personal growth
What Type Can Do...
 Type can help you better understand
yourself and help you better appreciate the
diversity of others.
 It does not predict
–
–
–
–
Intelligence
Maturity
Skills
Abilities
 But beware of Adaptive Behavior vs. “True
Type”
True Type
Sources of
Adaptive
Behavoir
•Parents
•Society
•School
•Friends
•Etc.
Preferences
 A key to Type is identifying preferences
– Preference is not absolute or “measurable”
– Preference can be understood by analogy to
handedness
Type Indicator Tools
 Self-Selection of preferences
 Sorting “Tests”
–
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
–
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
–
Many others
Temperament
 The 4 Temperaments
–
–
–
–
Idealists
Rationals
Guardians
Artisans
Temperament Preferences
Rational
Guardian
Artisan
Behavior Relationship
Empathic
Knowledge
Analytical
Authority
Responsible
Impact
Risk Taking
Abilities
Mentor
Catalyst
Organizer
Visionary
Monitor
Stabilizer
Operator
Troubleshooter
Values
Authenticity
Concepts
Rules
Excitement
Needs
Meaning
Mastery
Belonging
Freedom
Idealist
Idealist
 Empathy
 Meaning and Significance
 Human Potential
 Authenticity
 Catalyst and Unity
 Integrity and Ethics
 Growth
Rational
 Knowledge and Understanding
 Insight
 Competence
 Concepts and Ideas
 Strategy
 Logic
 Design
Guardian
 Responsibility
 Membership
 Traditions
 Security
 Useful
 Service and Duty
Artisan
 NOW! Impulse
 Impact
 Aesthetics
 Tactics
 Action and Variation
 Trouble shoot
Common Traits of the Temperaments
Idealists
Envisioning
Rationals
Affiliative
Meaning behind
behaviors
Sequential
Multidimensional
What’s in it
for the person
Guardians
Realistic
Pragmatic
Artisans
Favorite Abilities
Idealists
Diplomacy/Advocacy
Relationship Oriented
Rationals
Strategy/Design
Strategy Oriented
Guardians
Logistics/Facilitation
Operations Oriented
Artisans
Tactics/Performance
Opportunity Oriented
Best Environments
Idealists
Expressive
Personal
Rationals
Innovative
Intellectual
Guardians
Organized
Secure
Artisans
Stimulating
Variable
Which Temperament is…
 I am looking for an interesting job with a solid
company. I want the job to last and have
opportunity for promotion. I work effectively
when given clear stated, measurable goals.
Guardian
Which Temperament is…
 I am looking for a position that is suitable to
my level of expertise and one that is
intellectually challenging. I do my best work
when I am given an objective and told to
solve the problem.
Rational
Which Temperament is…
 I want a job with lots of variety and action. I
do great when you give me a project and
turn me loose. And, oh yes--there had better
be some challenge to it.
Artisan
Which Temperament is…
 I’m looking for a job in an organization that
seeks to improve the quality of life. I am
happiest when I can empower others to be
their best. And, I must be able to grow.
Idealist
Which Temperament is…
 This widget’s going to set the world on fire.
It’s fun and exciting.
Artisan
Which Temperament is…
 We’d better be sure all of the concepts
underlying the construction of this widget are
consistent with good design.
Rational
Which Temperament is…
 I’m concerned that some people will use this
widget unethically.
Idealist
Which Temperament is…
 There should be some rules regulating the
use of this widget.
Guardian
Distribution of Temperament
US General
Population
Guardian
Rational
Artisan
Idealist
47%
16%
21%
16%
Engineer Management LGC Sample
Ratio to US Ratio to US Ratio to US
Population Population Population
79%
220%
75%
73%
122%
138%
50%
64%
94%
191%
61%
83%
Type
 Combination of the following.
–
–
–
–
How you gather information
How you make decisions
How you are energized
Lifestyle preference
The Mental Processes
How you
gather
information
How you
make
decisions
S or N
T or F
S=Sensing
N=Intuiting
Both are used, one is preferred
T=Thinking
F=Feeling
Both are used, one is preferred
(S)ensing
& i(N)tuiting
 When people are using
Sensing, they know
the facts, understand
the planning stages,
and work out
implementation details
 When people are using
Intuiting, they see the
big picture, forge into
new areas, and
develop new
possibilities
Both are used, one is preferred
(S)ensing
& i(N)tuiting
Sensing

Intuiting
Information gathered through 
concrete use of the five
senses
Information gathered by way
of context, linking, and
totalities
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Sensing
Details
Present
Practical
Facts
Sequential
Directions
Repetition
Enjoyment
Perspiration
Conserve
Intuition
Patterns
Future
Imaginative
Possibilities
Random
Hunches
Variety
Anticipation
Inspiration
Change
(T)hinking
 When people are using
Thinking, they discuss
issues in a logical way,
consider pros and cons
of various alternatives,
and spot the
inconsistencies in a
plan
& (F)eeling
 When people are using
Feeling, they
understand what is
important to people,
acknowledge the
human side of decision
making, and help
others accept
decisions
Both are used, one is preferred
(T)hinking
& (F)eeling
Thinking

Decisions based on logic
and objective
considerations
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Thinking
Head
Objective
Justice
Cool
Impersonal
Criticize
Analyze
Precise
Principles
Feeling

Decisions based on
personal, subjective values
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Feeling
Heart
Subjective
Harmony
Caring
Personal
Appreciate
Empathize
Persuasive
Values
Orientations
How you
are
Energized
Lifestyle
Preference
E or I
J or P
E=Extraverting
I=Introverting
Both are used, one is preferred
J=Judging
P=Perceiving
Both are used, one is preferred
(E)xtraversion
& (I)ntroversion
 When people are
Extraverting, they are
aware of the
environment, maintain
their networks, and
take action
 When people are
Introverting, they pay
attention to the
infrastructure,
conceptualize the
problem, and look
deeply into issues
Both are used, one is preferred
(E)xtraversion
& (I)ntroversion
Extraversion

Stimulation comes from the
outer world of people and
things
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Extroversion
Active
Outward
Sociable
People
Many
Expressive
Breadth
Introversion

Stimulation comes from the
inner world of thoughts and
reflections
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Introversion
Reflective
Inward
Reserved
Privacy
Few
Quiet
Depth
(J)udging
&
 When people are using
Judging, they generate
systems, provide
organization, and act
decisively
(P)erceiving
 When people are using
Perceiving, they are
open to new ideas,
provide insight, and
react with flexibility if
the system breaks
down
Both are used, one is preferred
(J)udging
&
(P)erceiving
Judging

Style is decisive, planned
and orderly
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Judgment
Organized
Structure
Control
Decisive
Deliberate
Closure
Plan
Deadlines
Productive
Perceiving

Style is flexible, adaptable,
and spontaneous
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Perception
Flexible
Flow
Experience
Curious
Spontaneous
Openness
Wait
Discoveries
Receptive
Clarity of Preferences
Extraversion
Clear
Introversion
Moderate
Slight
Slight
Moderate
Sensing
Clear
Intuiting
Moderate
Slight
Slight
Moderate
Thinking
Clear
Clear
Feeling
Moderate
Slight
Slight
Moderate
Judging
Clear
Clear
Clear
Perceiving
Moderate
Slight
Slight
Moderate
Clear
Web Resources
 The Tests
– Keirsey Temperament Sorter

http://www.advisorteam.com/user/ktsintro.asp
– Fudjack/Dinkelaker Functional Preferences Instrument

http://tap3x.net/indicators/5level2a.html
 Keirsey Home Page
– http://www.keirsey.com
Type Preferences
E
I
Self-Selected Type
Temperament Sorter
My Best Fit Type Is
S
N
T
F
J
P
Relationship of Type to
Temperament
 Idealists
NF
 Rationals
NT
 Guardians
SJ
 Artisans
SP
Distribution in US Population
ISTJ
16%
ISTP
6%
ESTP
5%
ESTJ
10%
ISFJ
12%
ISFP
5%
ESFP
6%
ESFJ
10%
INFJ
3%
INFP
4%
ENFP
6%
ENFJ
3%
INTJ
4%
INTP
5%
ENTP
5%
ENTJ
3%
Distribution of Engineers
Ratio relative to US Population
ISTJ
112%
ISTP
106%
ESTP
96%
ESTJ
126%
ISFJ
37%
ISFP
53%
ESFP
39%
ESFJ
29%
INFJ
100%
INFP
91%
ENFP
51%
ENFJ
68%
INTJ
283%
INTP
177%
ENTP
160%
ENTJ
321%
Distribution of Management
Ratio relative to US Population
ISTJ
153%
ISTP
69%
ESTP
81%
ESTJ
207%
ISFJ
57%
ISFP
27%
ESFP
21%
ESFJ
61%
INFJ
92%
INFP
72%
ENFP
46%
ENFJ
64%
INTJ
186%
INTP
56%
ENTP
89%
ENTJ
314%
MBTI Types for IT Staff
(Myers and McCaulley)
 INTJs represent just 4% of the population,
yet form about 10% of computer staff.
 The other main types in computing are
ENTJ, ISTJ, and ESTJ.
MBTI Types of Software Developers–
(Steve McConnell)
 ISTJ is 25-40% of all software developers
 Introversion – 50-66%
 Sensing/Intuiting – 50-50
 Thinking – 80-90%
What STs Seek
Team Tasks STs Seek:




Monitoring progress with statistics, graphs, and charts
Managing costs and schedules
Showing measurable results
Detailed conversation shedding light on how something
specific works
 Using proven methods to increase productivity
 Solving practical problems immediately
 Figuring out ways to complete or build something that’s
been started
What STs Avoid
Team Tasks STs Avoid:






Proceeding with a plan that’s not well thought out
Using untried and unperfected methods
Brainstorming with no immediate practical outcome
Hypothesizing about the future
Not concentrating on work
Participating in self-awareness activities
What SFs Seek
Team Tasks SFs Seek:
 Using tried and true methods
 Friendly, sociable work relationships
 Finding practical ways to help out with the work and
others
 Applying their experience to practical jobs
 Treating each other fairly
 Developing charts that document each person’s skills
or needs
 Reviewing plans and materials others have formulated
to see what works best
What SFs Avoid
Team Tasks SFs Avoid:
 Using new and untested procedures
 Debating the merits of various theories
 Analyzing and predicting the outcomes of strategic
models
 Criticizing in an open forum, especially in relation to a
team member they know
 Treating people as interchangeable parts of a machine
What NFs Seek
Team Tasks NFs Seek:
 Increasing harmony, improving relationships & interaction
in the team
 Innovation and thinking up new ways to improve
performance, creative brainstorming,
conceptual/theoretical discussion
 Working with systems & systems thinking
 Doing work that provides growth for self and others
 Finding creative ways to communicate effectively
 Doing things that matter to people
 Working with diversity to improve output
What NFs Avoid
Team Tasks NFs Avoid:





Working with costs, detailed schedules, detailed figures
Performing control functions like accounting
Setting up hierarchies and authority chains
Playing politics
Having to defend small details to a basically
sound/creative idea or plan
What NTs Seek
Team Tasks NTs Seek:
 Positioning the team for the future
 Linking systems, strategies, and models,
discussing theory and concepts; integrating
 Developing goals, and general approach to
achieve the goals
 Finding opportunities for organizational growth
and development
 Conducting long-term impact studies of complex
problems
 Debating challenging questions
What NTs Avoid
Team Tasks NTs Avoid:
 Finishing someone else’s work
 Engaging in popularity contests
 Working with administrative details
 Performing repetitious tasks
 Participating in self-awareness activities
 Discussions which don’t appear to be related to a
particular purpose
Teams - A Definition
 A team is a small number of people with
complimentary skills who are committed to a
common purpose, performance goals, and
approach for which they hold themselves
mutually accountable
High Performance Teams
 Clear, common purpose
 Diverse, complimentary skills
 Set of compelling, measurable goals
 Continuously develop critical competencies
 Understand each others’ skills, roles and
responsibilities
 Commitment to interpersonal support and
communication
Predictions about Teams
 Similar types tend to understand each other sooner
 Different types are slower at the understanding
 High similarity = quicker decisions, but the process will be
one-sided
 Low similarity = decisions made more slowly (and
possibly more painfully), but are likely to be better
 Opposites on all four preferences may have special
problems in achieving understanding
 Members who share two preferences from each of the
opposites may become “translators”
Predictions about Teams
 One person with a different type from everyone else may
be seen as out of step
 “One-sided” teams should use behaviors from other types
 Good decisions will be made when:
–
–
–
–
basic facts and realities have been addressed (S)
new possibilities have been discovered (N)
unforeseen inconsistencies and consequences have been
accounted for (T)
important values have been protected (F)
Questions to ask about Team Dynamics
 What are the anticipated team strengths?
 What kinds of task will the team be drawn to?
 What temperaments and preferences are missing?
 What are likely blindspots?
 Who is alone?
 Who is likely not be be listened to?
 What conflicts can be anticipated?
 Who is likely to feel the most frustration?
 What is needed for the team to be successful?
Decision Making Dynamics
 To include Sensing ask:
–
–
–
–
What has past experience shown us?
What can be verified?
What is observable?
What is going on right now?
Decision Making Dynamics
 To include Intuiting ask:
–
–
–
–
How do the facts relate?
What interpretations can be made?
What patterns exist?
What are the possibilities?
Decision Making Dynamics
 To include Thinking ask:
– What are the logical consequences?
– What are the pros, cons, and interesting
alternatives?
– What will be most effective?
– What goal is being served?
Decision Making Dynamics
 To include Feeling ask:
– How can we communicate well with each other?
– What exceptions for others need to be made?
– What are other people’s feelings about what we
think?
– What important principles and values are being
served?
How to Persuade STs







Show me that it works
Indicate how it saves time and money
Demonstrate a good cost-to-benefit ratio
Show how the results can be measured
Allow me to try it before I buy it
Offer specific applications and benefits
Answer all my questions
How to Persuade SFs
 Indicate its practical results for people
 Show how it will clearly benefit me and those I care about
 Use personal testimonies from those who have benefited
from it
 Show that it provides immediate results
 Set it in a personal context
 Show respect to me and others in your presentation
 Explicitly state the benefits; don’t just imply them
How to Persuade NFs






Tie it to a mission or profound purpose
Show how it will enhance relationships
State how it helps people grow and develop
Give me an ideal to reach for
Highlight the contributions of people
Show how it gives new insights, possibilities, and
perspectives
 Point out how it will help me or others find meaning
 Talk about how enjoyable it is
How to Persuade NTs







Show that it has intriguing and fascinating potential
Be a credible source of information
Discuss its research base
Highlight its theoretical background
Demonstrate how it fits a strategy or core goal
Show how it will increase competency
Indicate its broad and far-reaching possibilities
Type Development
 Type Evolution
–
–
–
–
Dominant
Auxiliary
Tertiary
Inferior
Birth - 12
Teens
Twenties-Thirties
35+?-Never?
 INTJ (Introverted-iNtuiting-Thinking-Judging)
–
–
–
–
Dominant
Auxiliary
Tertiary
Inferior
Introverted iNtuiting
Extraverted Thinking
Introverted Feeling
Extraverted Sensing
Type Development
ISTJ
1.
2.
3.
4.
Sensing
Thinking
Feeling
Intuiting
ISFJ
1.
2.
3.
4.
ISTP
1.
2.
3.
4.
Thinking
Sensing
Intuiting
Feeling
Sensing
Thinking
Feeling
Intuiting
1.
2.
3.
4.
Thinking
Sensing
Intuiting
Feeling
Feeling
Sensing
Intuiting
Thinking
1.
2.
3.
4.
Sensing
Feeling
Thinking
Intuiting
1.
2.
3.
4.
Feeling
Sensing
Intuiting
Thinking
1.
2.
3.
4.
Feeling
Intuiting
Sensing
Thinking
1.
2.
3.
4.
Intuiting
Feeling
Thinking
Sensing
1.
2.
3.
4.
Feeling
Intuiting
Sensing
Thinking
Thinking
Intuiting
Sensing
Feeling
ENTP
1.
2.
3.
4.
ENFJ
1.
2.
3.
4.
Intuiting
Thinking
Feeling
Sensing
INTP
ENFP
ESFJ
1.
2.
3.
4.
Intuiting
Feeling
Thinking
Sensing
INTJ
INFP
ESFP
ESTJ
1.
2.
3.
4.
1.
2.
3.
4.
ISFP
ESTP
1.
2.
3.
4.
Sensing
Feeling
Thinking
Intuiting
INFJ
Intuiting
Thinking
Feeling
Sensing
ENTJ
1.
2.
3.
4.
Thinking
Intuiting
Sensing
Feeling
Type Development
Ego
Personal Conscious
Personal Unconscious
N
T
F
S
Collective Unconscious
Type Development - Childhood
Ego
Personal Conscious
Personal Unconscious
N
T
F
S
Collective Unconscious
Type Development - Teens
N
T
Ego
Personal Conscious
Personal Unconscious
F
S
Collective Unconscious
Type Development - Twenties
N
T
Ego
Personal Conscious
Personal Unconscious
F
S
Collective Unconscious
Type Development – Mid Life
N
T
F
Ego
Personal Conscious
Personal Unconscious
S
Collective Unconscious
Dominant Functions at Their Worst
(ISTJ, ISFJ, ESTP, ESFP)
When Sensing is Dominant: May be experienced
as …
 overemphasizing short term results
 unwilling to develop broader, significant change
strategies
 over-focused on detail at the expense of the main
intent
 unwilling to depart from own linear path
 snap decision-making
Dominant Functions at Their Worst
(INFJ, INTJ, ENFP, ENTP)
When Intuiting is Dominant: May be
experienced as …
 unrealistic and out of touch, in own world
 over-emphasis on future possibilities
 non-action oriented
 impatient with those who ask for detail or
evidence for their concept or idea
 overlooking of important practical details
Dominant Functions at Their Worst
(ISTP, INTP, ESTJ, ENTJ)
When Thinking is Dominant: May be
experienced as …
 overly-cautious and risk-adverse
 too conservative
 over-deliberating at the expense of action
 a stumbling block due to over-criticism, overanalysis
 rigid and dogmatic about own thinking
Dominant Functions at Their Worst
(ISFP, INFP, ESFJ, ENFJ)
When Feeling is Dominant: May be experienced
as …
 relying too much on “gut feel”
 making decisions too much based on the way
people and things emotionally effect them
 emotional reactions worn on sleeve at the expense
of wiser reflection
 sees their inferences of others and their feelings as
fact
 defensive and over-reactive
Experiencing Stress
(ISTJ, ISFJ, ESTP, ESFP)
When Sensing is Dominant and Intuiting is
Least Preferred:
 Doom and gloom attitude; end of the world;
no possible way out; “The sky is falling”
 Hopelessness and denial
Experiencing Stress
(INFJ, INTJ, ENFP, ENTP)
When Intuiting is Dominant and Sensing is
Least Preferred:
 Detail-bound; stubbornly preoccupied with
irrelevant facts and fine print
 Overindulgent; “Eat, drink and be merry”
Experiencing Stress
(ISTP, INTP, ESTJ, ENTJ)
When Thinking is Dominant and Feeling is
Least Preferred:
 Little things set you off; emotions are out of
control and inappropriate to stimulus; may be
hyperactive
 Feel worthless, guilty; take failure personally
Experiencing Stress
(ISFP, INFP, ESFJ, ENFJ)
When Feeling is Dominant and Thinking is
Least Preferred:
 Demand that blame be allocated; criticize;
“You should have…”
 Dominate and railroad others; treat people
as pawns or mere numbers
Individuation – Integration of the
Inferior Function
 For an INTJ, this may involve developing an
interest in ESFP-type activities
– Enjoying relationships for their own sake, rather
than in joint pursuit of some scientific objective
– Taking up sporting pursuits simply to enjoy them,
without feeling the need to develop ever greater
skill and competence.
– Spending more time with the family and enjoying
life
– Developing a much greater appreciation for
people, despite their lack of competence or
intellectual ability
Prayers for the Types
ISTJ
Lord help me to relax about insignificant details
beginning tomorrow at 11:41.23 am c.s.t.
ISTP God help me to consider people's feelings,
even if most of them ARE hypersensitive.
ESTP God help me to take responsibility for my own actions,
even though they're usually NOT my fault.
ESTJ God, help me to not try to RUN everything.
But, if You need some help, just ask
ISFJ Lord, help me to be more laid back and help me
to do it EXACTLY right.
ISFP Lord, help me to stand up for my rights
(if you don't mind my asking).
ESFP God help me to take things more seriously,
especially parties and dancing.
ESFJ God give me patience,
and I mean right NOW!
Prayers for the Types
INFJ
Lord help me not be a perfectionist.
(did I spell that correctly?)
INFP God, help me to finish everything I sta
ENFP God, help me to keep my mind on one thLook a bird- ing at a time.
ENFJ God help me to do only what I can and trust you for the rest.
Do you mind putting that in writing?
INTJ Lord keep me open to others' ideas,
WRONG though they may be.
INTP Lord help me be less independent, but let me do it my way.
ENTP Lord help me follow established procedures today.
On second thought, I'll settle for a few minutes.
ENTJ Lord, help me slow downandnotrushthroughwhatIdo
Prayers for the Types
Amen