A roadmap to active gender work

Halmstad April 2008

Marita SvenssonFiber Optic Valley

Fiber Optic ValleyVINNOVA - Vinnväxtvinnare 2004• In 2004 Fiber Optic

Valley was chosen as one of eight Innovation systems in Sweden by VINNOVA, Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems

• Financial support of more than 6 million Euros over a ten year period.

• Europe´s Fiber Optic Center 2015

Situated in the middle of Sweden, 2,5 h drive north of Stockholm.Stretching from Sundsvall in the North to Gävle in the South with Hudiksvall in the center.

Two academic institutions and base of operation for research institute Acreo FiberLab, Ericsson Network Technologies, and other multinational companies.

The Fiber Optic Valley Region

To create a new knowledge industry around Fiber Optics

Fiber Optic Valley is an arena for the development and test of broadband techniques and e-services.

These efforts are focused on three thematic areas:

Fiber to the User (FTTX)

E-services

Fiber Optics Industrial Applications (FIA)

Fiber Optic Valley -The Gender Network

• Analysis of gender equality in the region

• Gender perspective plays an important strategic rolein Fiber Optic Valleys action plan

• The goal is to achieve genderconscious organisations

• 2005 VINNOVA - call

The Gender Network

Actionoriented gender research.Gender Researcher together with middle managers from 11 different organisationsChange leaders in their organisations“Doing gender”

The Gender Network

Lack of knowledge about gender within the organisations

Broad support and commitment from the upper management is necessary

What´s in it for me?At both individual and organisational level

Effects at the organisational level

Attractive employer- strengthes brand and image on the employment marketPersonnel strategic factor- recruiting an attractive workforceSustainable growth-long-term profitability

Effects at the individual level

Grow as a manager/leader/person

Obtain valuable knowledge and tools for working with change

Get all the benefits of a network-support-coaching-insight into other organisations

The Gender Network - managementThree chairs - three people

Project manager-facilitator, co-ordinatorMarita Svensson

Gender researcher-scientific research leader,interactive researchSusanne Andersson

Process leader-guides and promotes the change and development processEva Amundsdotter

The Gender Network -methodAction Learning and Gender Coaching

Regular meetingsAction LearningLearn by trial and discover what we do through actionsHow gender is “done” - in daily lifeObservations and Gender Coaching in the workplaces

Gender theory model - four organisational processes

Joan Acker1. Segregation patterns

2. Interaction

3. Symbols and preconceptions

4. Attitudes

Gender Network - three phases

Study & Knowledge

Action Plan for Change

Concrete Change

The change leaders do an organisational analysis and study their own workplace from a gender perspective. Personal knowledge and insight develop.

The gender hierarchy in their own organisation is made visible. Management training: Innovative Leadership Goals are formulated and an action plan is designed.

The work of change is conducted based on the action plan.

Innovative Leadership – management program as a support structure• Need for knowledge

at the upper management levelas insight increase

• Tailor-made management program as a support structure

• 80 managers at athree-day course

• Link equality to business development

A roadmap to active gender work

Interim rapport

An application to VINNOVA to deepen and develop our theories and methods

You have to have stamina!!

The Innovation SystemLinking R&D resources with business/technology clusters in a Triple Helix context. Involving more than 50 stakeholders.

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