Have you taken the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment? It is a psychological test wherefrom you are classified on Extraversion vs. Introversion, Sensing vs. Intuition, Thinking vs. Feeling, and Judging vs. Perceiving. I, along with roughly 15% of the population, come out an ISTJ or "Guardian Inspector" (the single largest group among the 2^4 = 16 possible classifications). Apparently this is where all the curmudgeons come from.
What I found most curious was a table of "Famous Examples by Psychological Type" handed out by my examiner. It placed various historical figures into their Myers-Briggs category (e.g. Benjamin Franklin and Walt Disney were ENTP or "Rational Inventor," and Wolfgang Mozart and Stephen Spielberg were ISFP or "Artisan Composer"). I thought this was more than a little strange, since Benjamin Franklin and Wolfgang Mozart died long before the Myers-Briggs assessment was invented.
I became further suspicious by several of the other classifications of famous people, notably Princess Di, Albert Schweitzer, and Richard Gere all falling under INFP or "Idealist Healer." Princess Di and Albert Schweitzer I can understand, but Richard Gere a healer??? Perhaps early in his film career (as the "American Gigolo" with a heart of gold), but definitely not since that unfortunate falling out with Fievel.
So is there a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator for people in forecasting? If you've taken the assessment and are willing to share, please submit a comment with your MBTI.
Free 1-on-1 Consulting at IBF Supply Chain Forecasting Conference
Last time on The BFD (the blog) I mentioned a 1/2 day workshop "What Management Must Know About Forecasting" at the upcoming IBF conference (February 26-28 in Scottsdale, AZ), and the complimentary copy of The BFD (the book). But wait, there's more:
- Register by January 27 and enjoy early bird pricing and free participation in the IBF Golf Outing. (Based on past scores from the outing, actually being able to golf is not a requirement.)
- Round Robin Roundtable Discussions on various topics including Worst Practices in Forecasting.
- Schedule a 30-minute consultation with me or one of my SAS colleagues from professional services and R&D. We'll be ready to discuss your biggest challenges related to forecasting process, statistical modeling, or whatever you have to throw at us. Bring us your questions, bring us your data, and if you are already a SAS forecasting customer, go ahead and bring us your code and we'll be happy to take a look. Send me an email (mike.gilliland@sas.com) to reserve a time, or sign up at the SAS booth at the event.
9 Comments
Hi Mike,
Enjoyed your post! Interesting info. I'm not a forecaster but am an INFP :) Along with Richard Gere...
Thanks Shelly! Do you two have the same taste in pets as well? I'm more of a cat and dog man myself.
Fun post, Mike. ISTJ helps me understand your qualities. It's important to know which personality traits can help us succeed. I'm an ENFJ, as were Ronald Reagan and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Faye -- I'm glad my Myers-Briggs score helps you understand why I'm such an a******. Please blame it on my score, not my parents.
I meant to say "your positive qualities, Mike." Lol.
I'm one of those sensitive types... INFJ. First thing Myers Briggs tells me is that I'm very rare - no wonder!!!! Then it tells me that I should be a nurse or a social worker - I think MB needs to take a look at where Supply Chain Management fits in as a career - I see a perfect fit.
The other thing is the Intuition score - 88% on the Intuition... aside from thinking that I must be a psychic, I had an interesting thought, I don't actually do the forecasting, but maybe I should being that high on intuition! I should test it out... measure the FVA of my intuitive forecast vs. some calculated forecasting methods :) oh wait that's the delphi technique isn't it :)
A rare specimen, eh? According to my MBTI chart you are a cross between Gandhi, Sidney Poitier, Eleanor Roosevelt, and (your namesake?) Emily Bronte. That sounds about right. I'd like to know the FVA of your psychic powers against a Magic 8 Ball.
What I don't understand is: Why are all these sensitive people reading my blog?
"What I don't understand is: Why are all these sensitive people reading my blog?"
We're being sensitive to your feelings - we don't want to hurt your feelings by NOT reading it..... ;) oh and we are brilliant and intuitively feel that you are saying things that make sense.
I'm a forecaster, and I'm an INTJ. I work with a lot of forecasters, and INTJ is the most common type by far. And the few non-INTJs tend to be 'one-offs' where they differ from INTJ by only one letter.