Workplace Neurodiversity

By Stephen Plowright

Many technical and engineering workers have characteristics described as being within the "Autism Spectrum". Many have formal diagnoses, and many more just identify with a number of the AS characteristics. In this light, it makes sense for managers to become familiar with the characteristics and needs of their staff in order to provide the best and most productive working environment.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Aug 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9781445250878

Book preview

Workplace Neurodiversity

Workplace Neurodiversity

Key to Success for ICT and Technical Managers

Reviews

This book makes an important contribution for those with Asperger traits working in technical roles. I would certainly recommend it.

Malcolm Johnson, author of Managing with Asperger Syndrome

"Plowright’s book has concisely and expertly highlighted the positive contributions that can be made by people with Asperger’s Syndrome in public institutions. Particularly pertinent is his inclusion of a neutral dimension rather than the stereotyped positive-negative descriptions routinely applied to all persons with AS.

Hopefully, this book will be appreciated by managers for much the same reason as it was written - diversity once understood and valued can only enhance productivity and knowledge - surely progressive."

Eleanor Gittins, Psychologist specialising in Adult Asperger’s

"Managing ICT technical teams for the last 20 years I have built up management techniques so that I can guide not direct, excite not bore and instil understanding into technical people as to why business requires certain activities. Workplace Neurodiversity gives an insight into the thinking of highly technical people and illustrates why these techniques work with technical teams.

Reading this book has given me so many ‘aha’ moments as to why people have acted in a particular way. If you need to lift the performance and output long-term of your techs, this book will help."

Cameron Woolfe, Manager, IBM

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Workplace Neurodiversity

A Key to Success for ICT and Technical Managers

Stephen Plowright

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London – Toronto – Internet

First Published in 2011

by Lulu Press

www.lulu.com

Copyright © Stephen Plowright 2019

Printed digitally

The moral rights of the author have been asserted.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication, either in part or in whole may be reproduced transmitted or utilised in any form or by any means electronic, photographic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the Author, except for brief quotations embodied in literary articles and reviews.

All enquiries should be addressed to S. Plowright,

[e-mail]

This book may not be circulated in any other binding or cover.

ISBN 978-1-4452-5087-8

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank and acknowledge the unfailing support and advice of my wife Jodie. I am also grateful to my colleagues and managers at IBM, who have patiently shared their AQ scores, and test-driven this manual, as well as the company’s commitment to leadership in diversity policy. Henry Lauer for the final proofreading. The wit and insights of the folk at Joining Hans Asperger support group, and their organiser, Asperger psychologist Eleanor Gittins. Then of course, the kind encouragement of Professor Tony Attwood, and the invaluable insights into Asperger’s Syndrome found in his books and website.

Note about this Edition

This book was first published in 2011 with the title "Asperger Awareness. Since then Aspergers Syndrome has been subsumed into the Autism Spectrum" in the new version of the American diagnostic manual (DSM-5), and most writers have followed suit.

I have therefore changed the title and some of the text to stay current. In most cases, I had already used the abbreviation AS, to stand for Aspergers Syndrome, and now continue with AS for Autism Spectrum in referring to the personality characteristics.

I avoid using the clinical term ASD, because none of the many AS personalities I have personally known would describe themselves as disordered or disabled, but rather differently ordered, or even better Neurodiverse.

Introduction

After working with dozens of colleagues in several IT companies in different countries in