Personality type, career preference and implications for computer science recruitment and teaching

The aims of the paper are to identify Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MB27) personality attributes of computing professionals that are best suited to three major subtasks of computing -g~stem analysis, system design and programing and to corg%m the validi~of the attributes for computing professionals. The MBIT categorises individuals on four pairs of personalic haracteristics: extraversiotiintroversion, sensingl intuition, thinkinglfeeling and judginglperceiving, giving stiteen possible personali~types. The existing literature indicates that just two of these sixteen personali~types account for more than a third of computing professionals. Consideration of the tasks of computing professionals today suggests that a much broader range of personali~types is required. Preferred types are suggested for each of the major subtasks of system analysis, gstem design and programming. A study of 38 computing professionals tends to confirm that computing professionals with a preference for one of the subtasks do have characteristics suggested for that subtask. The implications of these findings for the recruitment and retewion of students are discussed.