The document discusses psychology and motivation as they relate to software engineers. It describes software engineers as highly analytical and logical but also prone to ego and aloofness. It summarizes research showing that extrinsic rewards can sometimes undermine motivation, while autonomy, mastery, and purpose better sustain motivation. It provides examples of how companies can support these three factors for software engineers through practices like flexible work schedules, opportunities for continuous learning, and ensuring the work's meaningful impact.
2. And, what do we want to learn from it?
Why this topic?
3. And, what do we want to learn from it?
Why this topic?
• Software Testing and Quality Assurance
• Software Project Planning and Management
• Software Requirements
• Software Architecture and Design
• Intellectual Property and Information Technology
• Software Security
• Software Generation and Maintenance
• Software Metrics and Quality Engineering
• Software Acquisition Practices, Legal and Economic Issues
• Software Reliability and Safety
4. John R. Fox: Digital Work in an Analog World: Improving Software Engineering Through Applied Psychology
Profile of (a typical) Software Engineer
• Highly analytical
• Logical thinkers
• Prideful in their work
• Creative
• Introverted (most)
• Persistent when interested
• Aloof to non-technical associates/issues
• Somewhat egotistical
6. Dan Pink: The puzzle of motivation
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation?language=en
The Candle Problem
7. Dan Pink: The puzzle of motivation
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation?language=en
The Candle Problem
Clips:
1:50 – 3:00 (first example…examples candle problem)
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation?language=en#t-89277
Explain study done with/without rewards
Explain study done with second example with/without rewards
6:17 – 7:00 (description/summary…after second example)
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation?language=en#t-365589
8. Dan Pink: The puzzle of motivation
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation?language=en
The Candle Problem
9. Dan Pink: The puzzle of motivation
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation?language=en
The Candle Problem
10. Dan Pink: The puzzle of motivation
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation?language=en
The Candle Problem
11. Dan Pink: The puzzle of motivation
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation?language=en
What instead of rewards/punishments
Autonomy:
the urge to direct our own lives
Mastery:
the desire to get better and better at something that matters
Purpose:
the yearning to do what we do in service of something larger than ourselves
12. Nicholas C. Zakas: The care and feeding of software engineers (or, why engineers are grumpy)
https://www.nczonline.net/blog/2012/06/12/the-care-and-feeding-of-software-engineers-or-why-
engineers-are-grumpy/
Example / Case Study
13. Nicholas C. Zakas: The care and feeding of software engineers (or, why engineers are grumpy)
https://www.nczonline.net/blog/2012/06/12/the-care-and-feeding-of-software-engineers-or-why-
engineers-are-grumpy/
Example / Case Study
14. Nicholas C. Zakas: The care and feeding of software engineers (or, why engineers are grumpy)
https://www.nczonline.net/blog/2012/06/12/the-care-and-feeding-of-software-engineers-or-why-
engineers-are-grumpy/
Example / Case Study
15. Nicholas C. Zakas: The care and feeding of software engineers (or, why engineers are grumpy)
https://www.nczonline.net/blog/2012/06/12/the-care-and-feeding-of-software-engineers-or-why-
engineers-are-grumpy/
Example / Case Study
16. Nicholas C. Zakas: The care and feeding of software engineers (or, why engineers are grumpy)
https://www.nczonline.net/blog/2012/06/12/the-care-and-feeding-of-software-engineers-or-why-
engineers-are-grumpy/
Example / Case Study
17. Dan Pink: The puzzle of motivation
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation?language=en
What instead of rewards/punishments
Autonomy:
the urge to direct our own lives
Mastery:
the desire to get better and better at something that matters
Purpose:
the yearning to do what we do in service of something larger than ourselves
26. The desire to get better and better at something that matters.
Mastery
Realistic deadlines:
27. The desire to get better and better at something that matters.
Mastery
test activity
28. The desire to get better and better at something that matters.
Mastery
Minimize multi-tasking/distractions:
29. The desire to get better and better at something that matters.
Mastery
Minimize multi-tasking/distractions:
“Head in
the engine”
30. The desire to get better and better at something that matters.
Mastery
Spread out mundane work:
31. The desire to get better and better at something that matters.
Mastery
Explore better/new technologies:
32. The desire to get better and better at something that matters.
Mastery
Continuous learning:
conferences
online learning
books
lunch-n-learns
tutorials
mentoring try new area
blogs
researching
33. The desire to get better and better at something that matters.
Mastery
Master skill (“art”):
35. The yearning to do what we do in service of something larger than ourselves.
Purpose
Genuinely improving people’s lives:
36. The yearning to do what we do in service of something larger than ourselves.
Nicholas C. Zakas: The care and feeding of software engineers (or, why engineers are grumpy)
https://www.nczonline.net/blog/2012/06/12/the-care-and-feeding-of-software-engineers-or-why-engineers-are-grumpy/
Purpose
People will use it:
“So, without enough information, changing requirements, not enough
knowledge to do the job, and people constantly second guessing us,
we trudge into work every day. Being creative people, we put up with all
of this because we know that one day people will use our work.”
“When there are delays due to people changing their minds, we get
very grumpy. Insanely grumpy. Our goal of getting our work in front of
people has been deferred, and that’s demoralizing.”
37. The yearning to do what we do in service of something larger than ourselves.
Purpose
People will enjoy it:
38. The yearning to do what we do in service of something larger than ourselves.
Purpose
Feel proud of work (“art”):
39. Nicholas C. Zakas: The care and feeding of software engineers (or, why engineers are grumpy)
https://www.nczonline.net/blog/2012/06/12/the-care-and-feeding-of-software-engineers-or-why-
engineers-are-grumpy/
Example / Case Study
40. Dan Pink: The puzzle of motivation
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation?language=en
What instead of rewards/punishments
Autonomy:
the urge to direct our own lives
Mastery:
the desire to get better and better at something that matters
Purpose:
the yearning to do what we do in service of something larger than ourselves
41. Dan Pink: The puzzle of motivation
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation?language=en
What instead of rewards/punishments
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation?language=en#t-1024081
42. Resources
Dan Pink: The puzzle of motivation
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation?language=en
Dan Pink: Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc
Nicholas C. Zakas: The care and feeding of software engineers (or, why engineers are grumpy)
https://www.nczonline.net/blog/2012/06/12/the-care-and-feeding-of-software-engineers-or-why-
engineers-are-grumpy/
Dave Crenshaw: The Myth of Multitasking Test
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCeGKxz3Q8Q
Southern Methodist University major in Software Engineering
http://www.smu.edu/Lyle/Departments/CSE/DegreePlans/MS_SE
Atlassian ShipIt Days
https://www.atlassian.com/company/about/shipit/