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.

1. Psychology, Motivation
and the Software Engineer
Amber Hardy

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

5. Motivation

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

18. Toolkit

19. Autonomy:
the urge to direct our own lives
Toolkit

20. The urge to direct our own lives.
Autonomy
Autonomy in work:

21. Autonomy in work:
The urge to direct our own lives.
Autonomy

22. Autonomy in timelocation:
The urge to direct our own lives.
Autonomy

23. Autonomy in environment:
The urge to direct our own lives.
Autonomy

24. Autonomy in tools:
The urge to direct our own lives.
Autonomy

25. Mastery:
the desire to get better and better
at something that matters
Toolkit

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”):

34. Purpose:
the yearning to do what we do
in service
of something larger than ourselves
Toolkit

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/

43. Images
https://prezi.com/sgufox0kriso/psychology-and-software-engineering-facts-and-fallacies/
http://gazette.teachers.net/gazette/wordpress/johnpwood/schoolies-cartoon-motivation/
http://www.whps.org/cf_enotify/view.cfm?n=15&u=3333&e=580
http://bit.ly/175jRRu
http://www.workflexibility.org/how-companies-can-implement-flexible-work-arrangements/
http://www.officesolutionsinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Charlotte-Office-Furniture-Rental-Company.jpg
http://www.besttouchlaptops.com/best-rated-laptops/
http://www.techworm.net/2015/02/top-10-free-computer-software-tools.html
http://uthscsa.edu/micro-immunology/mtools.asp
http://www.raindance.org/7-ways-boring-people-can-write-interesting-screenplays/
http://www.toprankblog.com/2013/09/creative-seo-copywriting-boring-topics/
http://www.rewaste.it/
http://www.toonpool.com/cartoons/The%20little%20artist_2024
http://www.cancer.org/involved/participate/makingstridesagainstbreastcancer/make-a-pink-ribbon-lapel-pin
http://pancan.inkminded.com/shop/view_product/Wage_Hope_Pin?n=5341927
http://www.usefulspaces.net/2011/09/labour-day-more-than-just-mechanic.html
http://www.computermasteronline.com/tag/computer-technology/

44. QUESTIONS