In 2005, Catalyst partnered with ISR (subsequently Towers Perrin-ISR), to more fully address and understand women’s talent management at technology companies. Catalyst also fielded a subsequent study in 2007 to examine drivers of satisfaction, retention, and advancement among women in technology, including:
- Supervisory relationships.
- Fairness and voice within their companies.
- Development and training opportunities, as well as career planning.
- Barriers to career advancement.
- Generational differences among women in the technology workforce.
- Equal opportunity and diversity.
The two-phase study revealed, among other findings, that:
- While women in technology companies were generally satisfied, there were areas of particular concern for technical women—specifically around supervisory relationships and perceptions of fairness and voice—that companies must address.
- Persistent barriers for women working in high-tech companies and/or in technical roles.
- The prominence of perceived barriers to advancement varied based upon the number of other women in a department or work group, as well as a woman’s generational age.
Lead Sponsor: IBM Corporation
Contributing Sponsors: Cisco Systems, Inc.; Dell Inc.; National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT)