The Under-Representation of Women in Information Technology (IT) Leadership Positions---An Analysis of Why Women Opt Out of the IT Pipeline at Mid-career Levels.

摘要

The underrepresentation of women in Information Technology (IT) leadership positions is a problem that has affected the industry since its onset. It is posited that women face various barriers in advancing through the IT pipeline. This study reviews the findings of other qualitative and quantitative studies to identify any recurring patterns that exist in today's global economy that could still hinder women from attaining leadership positions in IT. This study identifies some of these barriers and categorizes them into one of three categories, namely, the rapid rate of change in IT, socio-cultural roles of women, and career advancement opportunities. A conceptual framework model is developed to define the relationships between these broad categories and the effect on balanced gender representation in the industry.