A Comprehensive Study Of The Perceptions And Support Structures Of Women Engaged In IT/IS Careers

Abstract

Women engaged in the Information Technology/Information Systems (IT/IS) sphere of the American collegiate and corporate experience have made significant strides in employment and opportunities for advancement culminating in the recent achievement of women reaching the CEO and presidential levels of the largest corporations in the IT sphere. Despite this significant and welcomed departure from past experiences, the progression of women matriculating in the university IT/IS major, and following through to the career phase has not materialized in numbers that equal the proliferation of male entrants. This research study relates to the factors that have the most influence on the perceptions, constraints and positive experiences leading to the choice of career development at the collegiate level. The specific areas that will be investigated and tabulated within this context are that of role models, mentoring, pre-college perceptions, and equal opportunity considerations.