The Case for Hiring “Outlier” Employees; Harvard Business Review, 1/13/14

Robert D. Austin and Thorkil Sonne; Harvard Business Review; The Case for Hiring “Outlier” Employees: "A few months ago, software giant SAP announced plans to hire 650 new employees with autism. Yes, autism—even though people on what’s known as the “autism spectrum” are often seen as unemployable. They typically have trouble interacting with others and tend to engage in repetitive behaviors. Only 15% have full-time jobs. But this is no charitable gesture on SAP’s part. The company knows that some people with autism have an exceptional ability to focus on the repetitive, detailed work of software testing... Most companies don’t perceive the value of people with autism—or, for that matter, the value of other people who think or behave differently. Managers are unaware that outliers can create enormous value if they’re placed into environments that maximize their ability to contribute... Human society can’t afford to set aside people who are different. Their perspectives are desperately needed if we are to innovate our way through today’s global challenges."