Technical Women and Supervision at NOSC (Naval Ocean Systems Center): A Survey of Attitudes Toward Supervision

摘要

This document presents the results of a survey of attitudes toward supervision by NOSC technical managers, and NOSC male and female technical nonsupervisors who are potential technical supervisors. Women are underrepresented as technical supervisors. Analysis of the women's survey and the NOSC personnel database verify that there are women qualified to supervise at NOSC. Statistically there should be seven female supervisors instead of the two we had when this survey was taken. Forty-one percent of the women respondents want to be supervisors. There is a disparity in perceptions between management and employees about what is keeping employees from becoming supervisors. The fundamental causes of under-representation of technical women in supervision, as perceived by the women surveyed who have been at NOSC for at least 10 years, are: A historically male-dominated network; Lack of career development information; and Lack of experience. (sdw)