INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES THEORY OF GENDER AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

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INTRODUCTION

The previous chapter provided an introduction and background to the study. This study belongs within the gender and IT research discipline; therefore, this chapter reviews theoretical foundations that relate to gender and IT researches. Adam, Howcroft and Richardson (2004) maintain that the concept of gender and IT in research is not adequately theorised. In agreement, Trauth et al. (2004) bring out that the lack of sufficient theory in understanding the basis of the underrepresentation of women in IT is one of the research challenges. Lack of such theories will result in the gender implications of new IT transformations being continuously ignored. Nevertheless, there are three theoretical perspectives that are typically used in gender and IT researches, namely, gender essentialism, social construction, and individual differences. Social construction is considered another form of gender essentialism (Trauth, 2013). Both essentialism and social construction are typically found in gender researches that focus on exploring gender differences. Unlike essentialism and social construction, the focus of individual differences gender theorisation is on individuals of a particular gender.

RATIONALE FOR THE CHOICE OF THEORY

A theory provides a possible explanation or explanations to a particular situation (Hofstee, 2006: 30). According to Trauth (2006), the choice and use of theory are fundamental in understanding factors resulting in the underrepresentation of women in IT. Therefore, it is imperative to select and employ a theoretical perspective that is suitable for understanding factors that influence the underrepresentation of female IT Executives in South Africa. Upon understanding these factors, recommendations that address the IT gender gap at leadership levels can be formulated.

CONCLUSION

The chapter presented the theoretical framework on which the study is based. Although the essentialist and social construction theories are both used in gender and IT-related research studies, they were found not sufficient for this study. The primary reason these two theories were not chosen is that they do not adequately address all the encompassing factors contributing to the underrepresentation of women in IT. On that account, Eileen Trauth’s Individual Differences Theory of Gender and Information Technology was selected as the theoretical foundation for guiding this study. Research implications of the theory choice are outlined in Table 2-2.

THEME A: DESCRIBING THE JOB OF THE IT EXECUTIVE

Guadalupe et al. (2014) define executive managers as the CEO and the managers that report directly to him or her. They “have a significant leadership role in the organisation; have control over day-to-day operations and have decision-making powers” (Catalyst, 2005; BWSA, 2015). From an IT point of view, these executive managers are accountable and responsible for ensuring the proper management of IT operations. They are the highest-ranking executives within the IT fraternity and are often members of top management teams (Chen & Preston, 2007; Fortino, 2008: 139; Preston et al., 2008; Chen & Wu, 2011; Karanja & Zaveri, 2012). IT Executives occupy executive positions such as Chief Information Officer (CIO), IT Director, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), and Chief Operations Officer (COO). Because these roles are executive roles, Peppard (2010: 75) posits that the label given to the incumbent is not as important as the role that he or she fulfils.

ABSTRACT
DECLARATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 INTRODUCTION
1.2 PROBLEM BACKGROUND
1.2.1 The international situation
1.2.2 The South African situation
1.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT
1.4 RESEARCH MOTIVATION AND SIGNIFICANCE
1.5 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND QUESTIONS
1.6 DELINEATION AND LIMITATIONS
1.7 UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS
1.8 EXPECTED CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE STUDY
1.9 THESIS STRUCTURE
1.10 CONCLUSION
2 THEORETICAL UNDERPINNING
2.1 INTRODUCTION
2.2 INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES THEORY OF GENDER AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
2.3 RATIONALE FOR THE CHOICE OF THEORY
2.4 CONCLUSION
3 LITERATURE REVIEW
3.1 INTRODUCTION
3.2 SCOPE OF LITERATURE
3.3 THEME A: DESCRIBING THE JOB OF THE IT EXECUTIVE
3.3.1 Evolution of the role of the IT Executive
3.3.2 The IT Executive job description
3.3.3 THEME A Summary
3.4 THEME B: UNDERSTANDING THE IT CAREER PATHWAY
3.4.1 Shrinking IT career pipeline
3.4.2 IT career anchors
3.4.3 THEME B Summary
3.5 THEME C: THE CONCEPT OF LEADERSHIP
3.5.1 Leadership traits
3.5.2 Gender and leadership
3.5.3 THEME C Summary
3.6 THEME D: BARRIERS IN IT
3.6.1 The glass ceiling
3.6.2 The leadership labyrinth
3.6.3 THEME D Summary
3.7 THEME E: EXPLAINING THE SOUTH AFRICAN IT SECTOR
3.7.1 South Africa’s ICT labour market
3.7.2 Participation of women in IT
3.7.3 THEME E Summary
3.8 THEME F: THE CONCEPT OF CULTURE
3.8.1 Hofstede’s dimensions of culture
3.8.2 Gender roles
3.8.3 THEME F Summary
3.9 CONCLUSION
4 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND DESIGN
4.1 INTRODUCTION
4.2 RESEARCH PHILOSOPHY
4.2.1 Interpretive research
4.2.2 Motivation for using interpretivism
4.3 RESEARCH DESIGN
4.3.1 Research strategy
4.3.2 Case study research
4.3.3 Motivation for using case study approach
4.3.4 Data collection
4.3.5 Data analysis
4.4 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
4.5 CONCLUSION
5 DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
5.1 INTRODUCTION
5.2 PROFILES OF FEMALE IT EXECUTIVES
5.2.1 Summary of participant demographics
5.3 RESULTS
5.3.1 Individual identity construct
5.3.2 Individual influences construct
5.3.3 Environmental influences construct
5.4 CONCLUSION
6 A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK FOR FEMALE IT PROFESSIONALS ADVANCEMENT TO IT EXECUTIVE POSITIONS
6.1 INTRODUCTION
6.2 TOWARDS A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK FOR FEMALE PROFESSIONALS’ ADVANCEMENT TO IT EXECUTIVE POSITIONS
6.2.1 Construction of the theoretical framework
6.3 CONCLUSION
7 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
7.1 INTRODUCTION
7.2 ANSWERS TO RESEARCH QUESTIONS
7.2.1 Addressing the secondary research questions
7.2.2 Addressing the primary research question
7.3 EVALUATION OF CONTRIBUTION TO THE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE
7.3.1 Criteria for evaluating contribution to knowledge in Information Systems researsh
7.4 CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE STUDY
7.5 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH
7.6 CONCLUDING REMARKS
REFERENCES

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TOWARDS A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK FOR FEMALE IT PROFESSIONALS’ ADVANCEMENT TO IT EXECUTIVE POSITIONS: A SOUTH AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE