Factors Affecting Advancement of Diverse Information Technology

Workforce

Sohel ImrozSohel Imroz

ISQA 8060 – Research in MISISQA 8060 – Research in MIS

University of Nebraska at OmahaUniversity of Nebraska at Omaha

Date: December 2, 2004Date: December 2, 2004

Research Project Option #3

Develop a research proposal to Develop a research proposal to study a problem a local organization study a problem a local organization is experiencing in the management is experiencing in the management of IT professionalof IT professional

Background Information

Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.– 49,000 employees in 130 countries49,000 employees in 130 countries– 900 IT personnel in USA900 IT personnel in USA– 60 IT personnel in Omaha60 IT personnel in Omaha

Develop a diversity initiative programDevelop a diversity initiative program– Bring more women and multicultural talentsBring more women and multicultural talents– Launch training programsLaunch training programs

Diversity Defined

““Diversity refers to the presence of differing Diversity refers to the presence of differing cultures, languages, ethnicity, races, sexual cultures, languages, ethnicity, races, sexual orientations, religious sects, abilities, classes, orientations, religious sects, abilities, classes, ages, and national origins of people in an ages, and national origins of people in an institution or community such as school, institution or community such as school, workplace, neighborhood, and so forth.”workplace, neighborhood, and so forth.”– (Diversity Dictionary, 1996)(Diversity Dictionary, 1996)

Interview #1

Interviewee:Interviewee:– Sarah Moeller-Swan, Human ResourcesSarah Moeller-Swan, Human Resources

Purpose:Purpose:– About the organizationAbout the organization– About future plans for diversity initiative programAbout future plans for diversity initiative program

Major points:Major points:– Diversity is beneficial for associates, employersDiversity is beneficial for associates, employers– Managing diversity is difficultManaging diversity is difficult– No single recipe for creating diverse workforce programNo single recipe for creating diverse workforce program

Interview #1 (contd.)

Variables identified:Variables identified:– DiscriminationDiscrimination– HarassmentHarassment– ExclusionExclusion

Interview #2

Interviewee:Interviewee:– Saujanya Reddy, Programmer AnalystSaujanya Reddy, Programmer Analyst

Purpose:Purpose:– ExperienceExperience– Career advancement opportunitiesCareer advancement opportunities

Major points:Major points:– Women and minorities need helpWomen and minorities need help– Limited idea of corporate politicsLimited idea of corporate politics

Interview #2 (contd.)

Variables identified:Variables identified:– Availability of mentorsAvailability of mentors– Lack of corporate political savvyLack of corporate political savvy

Literature Review

Major points:Major points:– Increase in women and minority workforceIncrease in women and minority workforce– Sexual orientation is less of an issueSexual orientation is less of an issue– More people with disabilities entering More people with disabilities entering

workforceworkforce– More businesses are becoming globalMore businesses are becoming global

Literature Review (contd.)

Variables identified:Variables identified:– Ability of balancing work and familyAbility of balancing work and family– Proper career planning and developmentProper career planning and development

Problem Statement

To what extent do discrimination, exclusion, To what extent do discrimination, exclusion, ability of balancing work and family, proper ability of balancing work and family, proper career planning and development, and career planning and development, and availability of mentors affect the advancement availability of mentors affect the advancement of diverse Information Technology workforce?of diverse Information Technology workforce?

Theoretical Framework Independent Variables:Independent Variables:

– DiscriminationDiscrimination– Ability of balancing work and familyAbility of balancing work and family– Proper career planning and developmentProper career planning and development– Availability of mentorsAvailability of mentors

Intervening Variable:Intervening Variable:– ExclusionExclusion

Dependent Variable:Dependent Variable:– Advancement of diverse Information Technology Advancement of diverse Information Technology

workforceworkforce

Schematic Diagram

Exclusion

Discrimination

Ability of balancingwork and family

Proper Careerplanning anddevelopment

Availability of mentors

Independent Variables Dependent Variable

Advancement of diverseInformation Technology

workforce

Intervening Variable

Hypotheses The greater the extent of discrimination The greater the extent of discrimination

in organization, the higher will be the in organization, the higher will be the exclusion of diverse Information exclusion of diverse Information Technology workforce.Technology workforce.

As exclusion in organization increases, As exclusion in organization increases, opportunities for advancement of opportunities for advancement of diverse Information Technology diverse Information Technology workforce decrease.workforce decrease.

Hypotheses (contd.)

There will be a significant positive correlation There will be a significant positive correlation between the ability of balancing work and family and between the ability of balancing work and family and chances for advancement of diverse Information chances for advancement of diverse Information Technology workforce.Technology workforce.

Proper career planning and development will Proper career planning and development will significantly explain the variance in advancement of significantly explain the variance in advancement of diverse Information Technology workforce.diverse Information Technology workforce.

The more the availability of mentors in organization, The more the availability of mentors in organization, the greater will be the chances for advancement of the greater will be the chances for advancement of diverse Information Technology workforce.diverse Information Technology workforce.

QuestionnaireVariable Name Dimension Number

of Items Questionnaire

Section No. Item

Numbers Demographic 7 1 1 – 7 Variables

Discrimination (IV) Equal pay Disability Harassment Religion Sex

3 3 5 4 5

2 2 2 2 2

1 – 3 4 – 6 7 – 11 12 – 15 16 – 20

Ability of balancing work and family (IV)

Flexibility Support Personality

5 4 4

2 2 2

21 – 25 26 – 29 30 – 33

Proper career planning and development (IV)

Education Training Career plan Growth

4 5 5 6

2 2 2 2

34 – 37 38 – 42 43 – 47 48 – 53

Availability of mentors (IV)

Commitment Skill Support

4 3 3

2 2 2

54 – 57 58 – 60 61 – 63

Exclusion (IVV) 8 2 64 – 71 Advancement of diverse Information Technology workforce (DV)

6 2 72 – 77

Questionnaire (contd.)

Please refer to page 4 of the handout Please refer to page 4 of the handout for partial list of questionnaire set.for partial list of questionnaire set.

Questionnaire (contd.)

Good aspects:Good aspects:– Covers all variablesCovers all variables– Operationally definedOperationally defined– Simple vocabularySimple vocabulary– No double barreled or misleading questionNo double barreled or misleading question– Short questionsShort questions

Questionnaire (contd.)

Bad aspects:Bad aspects:– Do not move from general to specificDo not move from general to specific– Too many questions?Too many questions?– Less time spent than literature review and Less time spent than literature review and

variables identificationvariables identification

Statistical Analysis

Step 1: Establish a null hypothesisStep 1: Establish a null hypothesis Step 2: Choose a statistical testStep 2: Choose a statistical test Step 3: Determine level of significanceStep 3: Determine level of significance Step 4: Collect data and apply formulaStep 4: Collect data and apply formula Step 5: Compare with the critical valueStep 5: Compare with the critical value Step 6: ConclusionStep 6: Conclusion

Reference

Please refer to page 6 of the handout Please refer to page 6 of the handout for a partial list of reference.for a partial list of reference.