Workplace Environments That Hinder And Assist The Career Progression Of Women In Information Technology

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop an understanding of the workplace environment characteristics that hinder and assist the career progression of women in information technology. This study utilized a qualitative design, which provided a comprehensive understanding of the workplace environments that hinder and assist the career progression of women in information technology. The major research method for this study was in-depth, semi-structured telephone interviews with a group of twenty-five women in positions in information technology from across the United States. The findings revealed that the workplace environment and culture characteristics identified by the women in information technology have both positive and negative aspects. Some of the negative aspects included: Male dominated (good old boy culture), very competitive, and diversity not valued. Some of the positive aspects included: Teamwork oriented; results driven culture; and high accountability.This study examined both the positive and negative roles that workplace environment and culture play in the career development of women in information technology. The literature has described the IT workplace culture as having certain characteristics that are unique to the industry and unique to White male culture. The IT culture has been described as largely white, male dominated, anti-social, individualistic, and competitive. Although many of these workplace characteristics were supported by this study, it was the collaborative and teamwork oriented aspect of their workplace environment and working together on projects and building close relationships with colleagues that benefited the study participants the most in their career development. If organizations want to attract and retain talented women into their IT workforce, they must have an understanding of both positive and negative workplace environment factors that affect women's career development in IT.

"What's Your Problem?" ANT Reflections on a Research Project Studying Girls Enrolment in Information Technology Subjects in Postcompulsory Education

“…Analysis of this statistic (and its persistence) has often focused on such factors as the impact this under representation has upon the total numbers of students studying information technology or related courses at university (hereafter referred to as IT); the looming personnel shortages in information technology professions (Wentling & Thomas, 2004); the impact that opting out of IT as an area of study has on girls' future career paths, including the potential to reduce their chances of employment within lucrative and "in demand" industries, and, indeed, curtailing their ability to contribute to the construction of the kinds of technologically mediated futures that impact upon their lives into the short and long term future (Wajcman, 1991).…”