Comparison of the Two Sets of Descriptions
From Figure 1 it will be noted that the "X"
axis, marked "Focus", corresponds to the Introvert-Extrovert axis of
the MBTI grid. Similarly, the "Y" axis, marked "Approach",
corresponds to the Intuitive-Sensing axis. Keirsey and Bates have indicated approximate
percentages of the population that correspond to each of the sixteen MBTI types.
Possibly these percentages represent only the North American population, but
still the data provide a useful distribution.
Figure 2: The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator 4x4 Grid Structure
On this basis, the distribution of the population on the four axes are as follows:
Sensing - 75%, Intuitive - 25%; Extrovert - 75%, Introvert - 25%; Thinking -
50%, Feeling - 50%; and Perceiving - 50%, Judging - 50%. Just examining the four
major quadrants of the grid is instructive. As shown in Figure
3, the distribution of population in the primary quadrants of the MBTI grid
is heavily weighted towards the Extrovert-Sensing type (about 55%). These people
are sometimes disparagingly referred to as the "touchy-feely" types.
This compares with the opposite quadrant containing a much smaller number of
Introvert-Intuitive types (only about 5%) recognizable as thoughtful but generally
unsociable loners. The remaining two quadrants are about equally divided at 20%.
To determine which types of people would be suited to some
form of project work, we must understand each of the cell type descriptions.
Fortunately, Keirsey and Bates provide extensive and detailed descriptions of
those in each cell. Of course, few people fall neatly and exactly into each,
and even if they do, they probably have a significant bias one way or another.
However, for purposes of a broad population analysis such as this, the distribution
is still instructive.
Note: The capital figures in the labels
above are the MBTI reference letters
Figure 3: Population Distribution in the Primary Quadrants of the MBTI Grid
So, for our analysis, we abstracted from these descriptions key phrases that
appear to be most relevant to the project management team environment. We then
made a subjective and coarse assessment of whether the population in the cell
is strongly inclined towards project management leadership (i.e. 100%); more
likely suited to a mixture of leader-follower (50%/50%); probably a mixture of
project and non-project oriented people (50%/50%); or unsuited to project management
team work at all (100%). A sampling of the abstracted descriptions and percentage
assessments for each MBTI type is shown in Appendix A.
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The
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
