Computer Weekly has been given a sneak preview of the early
findings from the Scale 21 report on what it takes to be a success
in the IT industry. Nathalie Towner reports
Today's IT professionals may have more in common with Alistair
Campbell than Alan Turing. The initial findings from the Scale 21
report, revealed exclusively to Computer Weekly, show that advanced
maths skills are no longer a prerequisite for building a successful
career in the IT industry and many of you have good people
skills.
In total, 1,800 individuals completed more than 3,000 tests and
assessments, making this report the most comprehensive analysis of
the skills needed for a career in IT ever undertaken.
The results show how much the IT profession has evolved from the
days when it comprised a few boffins and mathematicians working
alone in the basement.
Not all the results were unexpected, with respondents showing a
high IQ-based capability for analogies and patterns.
The surprise result was the low average score for arithmetic and
conventional logic. This goes against the common perception of
computer workers as being strong on maths and logical thinking. The
results reflect a profession that has changed in emphasis and is
attracting people whose talents lie in new fields.
For decades the IT establishment has seen logical reasoning, maths
skills and spatial awareness as the vital skills in our industry.
But these are no longer enough to ensure success in IT departments
that are increasingly at the forefront of business strategy.
As part of the Scale 21 study, profiles were created to build up a
picture of the behavioural skills that IT professionals possess.
Profiling seeks to identify where an individual's talents lie. The
main objective is to help a person understand their preferences,
strengths, weaknesses and relationships with others.
The survey found that ITers have evolved into strong influencers
who are able to get people to act positively or favourably towards
them or their ideas.
Respondents scored well above the UK average for being motivated
when interacting with other people, and for being enthusiastic and
good at cultivating relationships. Results indicate that they
strive to make a favourable impression and radiate optimism.
ITers are increasingly involved in corporate decisions and a key
skill is to be able to influence other departments and companies.
The days when networking was the reserve of public school boys are
long gone. Computer workers are well aware of the benefits it
brings and have become adept at using it to their own ends.
The profiles also show that IT staff are motivated by providing
high-quality work, scoring much higher than the UK average in this
area. According to the survey, they are driven by compliance to
policy and standards and look to avoid error, conflict and danger.
The respondents were found to be good at concentrating on dangers,
enforcing quality standards and directives and monitoring and
controlling. They are also good at improving quality standards and
fact finding.
The results suggest the industry is thriving by employing outgoing
and vibrant people just as well as detail-orientated
individuals.
Despite their motivation to provide high-quality work, the
respondents scored well below the UK average when it came to
"steadiness", which, in this context, means performing work in a
consistent manner to produce predictable results.
ITers also fell below the UK average when it came to being
"dominant" - although this was a less marked result. In the Scale
21 definitions, dominant individuals are described as accomplishing
results in spite of opposition or antagonistic circumstances. These
people are motivated by getting results, by being challenged, by
making decisions and by taking action.
The Life Skills section of the survey was designed to measure some
of the more elusive factors that contribute to a person's success
in the IT field. Important personality characteristics, such as
coping skills, perfectionism, self-efficacy, persistence and
goal-orientation, are considered to play an essential role in each
individual's ability to make it in the technology industry.
Contrary to expectations, respondents gained a low average score
for perfectionism.
Programmers are traditionally employed to produce 100% accurate
work but, if these findings are to be believed, perhaps this is not
a realistic expectation. Maybe the results provide a starting point
for discussions that could lead to a better understanding of which
working practices produce the least "buggy" software.
The report says having a high score for perfectionism could mean
that the individual concerned is making themselves unnecessarily
unhappy. Perfectionists can set high standards that are difficult
to meet either for themselves or others. It warns that individuals
should be able to distinguish between reasonable aspirations and
unrealistic demands.
With the exception of perfectionism, respondents scored highly in
all the other life skills.
The Scale 21 report describes four traits that most of the IT
professionals who completed the tests seem to possess:
- They are flexible and find it relatively easy to adapt to
change.
- They are resourceful and are able to find solutions to unusual
problems. They know where to turn for help and information. This
decreases the risk of them getting stuck or feeling helpless.
- They are self-sufficient and trust their own judgement. They
are able to learn from their own mistakes.
- They are goal-oriented self-starters who stay focused on the
task and are not put off by obstacles.
The mix of characteristics highlighted in the Scale 21 report is
the strongest indication yet that the IT industry needs to attract
individuals with a broad set of skills.
The complete analysis of the results will be instrumental in
portraying an up-to-date image of a constantly changing industry
and could prove to be a vital tool in the campaign to attract the
new recruits IT so desperately needs.
What is Scale 21?
The Scale 21 (Skills Learning Aptitude
Environment in the 21st Century) project was set up to investigate
issues and implement some of the recommendations proposed by the
DTI Information, Communications and Media Foresight Panel last
year.
During autumn 2001, a working group contacted members of
professional bodies the British Computer Society, the Institute of
Electrical Engineers, the Institute for the Management of
Information Systems, the Institution of Analysts and Programmers,
and readers of Computer Weekly to invite them to participate in a
pathfinder study.
The aim of the research was to identify the underlying skills that
have made members of the IT profession successful. It used a range
of aptitude and psychological tests.
The ultimate goal is to create a skills "blueprint" that could be
used to recognise these abilities among groups such as people on
government-sponsored training initiatives or students and
schoolchildren.
Who took part?
Between 15 October 2001 and 31 December
2001 computer workers and other qualified professionals took a
series of online tests to provide the raw data for the Scale 21
report.
Respondents included IT professionals from City organisations such
as ABN Amro and JP Morgan, public sector workers from local and
national government, and self-employed contractors.
The deadline for submissions was extended to 16 January 2002 and
during this time several Nottinghamshire schools were able to
participate. For the purposes of this article some of the results
from the schools have been omitted from the graphs.
Key traits of successful IT professionals
The Scale 21
report identifies the following as the key traits that most of the
IT professionals who completed the profiling questionnaires seem to
possess:
Adaptability
A relatively flexible person. Does not
find adapting to change
too challenging.
Resourcefulness
Resourceful people are able to deal
with life situations that require them to find solutions to
uncommon problems. These individuals know where to turn for help,
information or support. This decreases the risk of getting stuck or
feeling helpless.
It is a highly valuable skill in a wide variety of
situations.
Self-efficient
Self-efficient people can trust and rely
upon themselves. They trust their own judgement. They know it is
not only acceptable to make mistakes but also necessary - it is the
only way to learn.
Goal-oriented
Goal-oriented people are highly motivated. They are self-starters
who are extremely focused and are not put off by obstacles in their
path.