# Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Why hiring people with AS in high-tech is a smart idea. (Harvard article)

Yet another article —this one from Harvard— discussing why Aspies and Auties are so good at programming and, my personal favourite, QA!! Our perseverative tendencies make us very good at this kind of work, and lo and behold, even with the "social defiicits" (such as they are), it turns out these skills are both important and financially meaningful for the company! IMAGINE THAT!

What is with "managers" not GETTING it? So obvious.

I'm not bitter. Oh wait, yes I am. Well, maybe a little. But not in the way that will make me embrace wacky religions, worship guns, or start to resent immigrants. Being one myself and all. ;-)

Check out the Harvard Business School article here.

Their "Executive Summary", for anyone too busy to actually read a short article and get some context. Heh.

"Software analysts and programmers live to innovate—but hate to run tests. Yet top-notch testing saves many a company money when bugs are caught early. A new case coauthored by HBS professor Robert D. Austin describes the secret behind a Danish consultancy's success: The majority of its testers have Asperger syndrome or a form of autism spectrum disorder. Key concepts include:
  • Techies tend to be idiosyncratically talented. The case "Specialisterne: Sense & Details" is about putting diverse talent where it will be most effective.
  • Software testing requires superb powers of concentration combined with tolerance (even preference) for routine tasks.
  • Seventy-five percent of the software consultants in the Specialisterne case have Asperger syndrome or some form of autism spectrum disorder.
  • Some software testing may be offshored, but mission-critical testing must be done near the client. "
    • 4/15/2008 10:48 AM Pacific Daylight Time  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [128]  |