People, business and IT skills

Abstract

This paper discusses professional women's perceptions of the skills required for working in the information technology (IT) industry with respect to the skills women bring to IT work and how the skills contribute to their career progression. The paper references interviews with ten women IT professionals who were asked to describe their entry into the IT industry, their perceptions of IT careers and the skills requirements for success. It was found that an ability to switch between different types of skills (people skills and technical skills) and to adapt to different IT environments contributed to the career progression of women in the IT industry. In the newer areas of IT such as electronic commerce, the ability to switch between one skill set to another is important for the success of such applications. It is suggested that the misrepresentation of the specializations available in the IT industry is an important factor contributing to the gender gap at higher managerial levels and it can only be closed if the range of skills, aptitudes and career paths are made clear to the women.

Assessing Gender Differences in Software Developers Using the Human Capital Model

“…The segregation of labor markets also impacts the type and status of IT jobs in which women are employed. Von Hellens, Pringle, Nielsen, and Greenhill (2000) indicate that women in IT jobs increasingly are concentrated in lowstatus job classifications and interface strictly with customers, while their male counterparts are employed in higher-status and higher-paying IT jobs, where they interface predominantly with other IT professionals and managers. This strengthens the social network for males working in IT while segregating or isolating female IT workers.…”