Identifying Exceptional Application Software Developers: A Comparison of Students and Professionals

Abstract

Exceptional application software developers are a scarce resource. It is therefore important for employers to identify, retain, and cultivate individuals who exhibit this capacity. This study compared the personality characteristics of exceptional, experienced application software developers with the personality characteristics of junior and senior level IS and CS students (who can be seen as entry-level, or pre-entry level, IT developers). We used the Adjective Checklist to measure personality characteristics for all subjects, then mapped the resultant scales to the Five Factor Model of Personality. The results of this study suggest that exceptional application software developers exhibit significantly higher levels of Extraversion and Conscientiousness. Exceptional students (as determined by GPA), however, were actually found to be introverted. Thus, when GPA is used to pre-screen or filter for entry-level positions, recruiters may actually be excluding some of those candidates who are most likely to become exceptional application software developers. These results have implications for understanding and managing the recruiting of IT personnel and their progression from entry level (novice) to more experienced positions.

An Investigation of Personality Traits in Relation to Job and Career Satisfaction of Information Technology Professionals

“…In their study of IT developers, Clark et al (2003) did not find a significant difference (at the traditional Po0.05 level), between exceptional and nonexceptional developers on Conscientiousness. Also, in their study of IT professionals, Burke (2002, 2006) found that Conscientiousness was found to be significantly, positively related to supervisors' ratings of relationship management but not significantly related to three other criteria of job performance -technical proficiency, documentation standards, and self-development.…”

“…In addition, interpersonal skill has been identified as an important requisite skill for IS professionals (Watson et al, 1990) and was one of three main areas in which a positive discrepancy between perception and expectation was related to career satisfaction (Tesch et al, 2003). In a study of IT developers, Clark et al (2003) found that exceptional developers had significantly higher Extraversion scores than non-exceptional developers.…”

How personality type influences decision paths in the unfolding model of voluntary job turnover

“…For instance, the "Big Five" personality factors are beginning to receive wider attention among IS scholars [10], [42]. We could develop a similar conceptual model and hypotheses for testing relationships analogous to those proposed above.…”

Information technology architects

“…To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. SIGMIS-CPR'06, April 13-15, 2006 Related research has looked at some aspects of people capabilities in similar areas with the major focus being on systems analysts [21], designers [16,43,[47][48][49], developers/programmers [7,10,13,51] and IT people in general [50]. Some of this work used personality related instruments such as the Adjective Comparison List [20] and the Myers Briggs Type Indicator [35] and therefore has a different focus from this paper which is focused on capabilities rather than personality aspects.. Much of the related prior research work used a variety of research methods including protocol analysis, interviews, and direct observation, the majority of which was primarily qualitative, whereas this research was quantitative.…”