Bipolar Factor and Systems Analysis skills of Student Computing Professionals at University of Botswana, Gaborone

Temperamental suitability (personality traits) could be a factor to consider in career placement and professional development. It could also be an indicator of professional success or failure in any profession such as Systems Analysis and Design (SAD). However, there is not sufficient empirical evidence in support of the personality traits to which systems analysts and designers may be categorized. The objective of this study is to empirically investigate the main personality traits to which systems analysts and designers may belong, then propose a new approach to composing a personality matrix based on sound computational model. The study employed a quantitative research approach to measure the personality traits of 60 student systems analysts and designers using a human metric tool such as the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and some pre designed additional questionnaires. A mathematical model of the form was employed in order to measure achievement in systems analysis and design examination. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse the data. Using linear regression, the model was not significant, implying that achievement in SAD examination does not depend only on personality traits, motivation variables and study habit variables which were the independent variables. However, the R squared value indicated that these variables account for 52% variation in the dependent variable SAD score (achievement). The best achievers in the personality traits are ENFJ, ENTJ, ISFJ and INFJ all scoring 70% each. Therefore, the best achievers possess the personality traits of extroversion (E), iNtuition (N), Feeling (F), Judging (J), Thinking (T), Introversion (I), Sensing (S). Overall, the highest passes are students of the traits INFJ (11), INTJ (11 passes), ENTJ (10 passes), ENFJ (10 passes), ESFP (3passes), ISFJ (3passes), ISTJ (3 passes), ESFP (2 passes), ENFP (1), ISTP (1), and ISFP (1). Keywords—personality trait; systems analysts; academic achievement; bipolar matrix