Groups and Committees

Women in IT Forum - International Research

Intellect’s Women in IT Forum are delighted to be able to announce the undertaking of research which will evaluate women’s position in the UK IT Industry from an international and cultural perspective.   The research is designed in phases to incorporate three interlinked levels of analysis: national, institutional and individual.

The key objectives of the research are:

Phase One
To assess the position of the UK within the international* community regarding the status of women in the IT industry (national level)

Phase Two
To evaluate policy and practice in IT companies in the UK (and other selected countries) regarding gender issues and women's career development (institutional level)

Phase Three
To investigate the occupational culture of the IT industry within the UK (and other selected countries), with particular reference to constraints encountered by women in terms of recruitment, promotion and retention (individual level)

*selected countries for comparison are:

It is important to note that countries will only be included in the research once it is ascertained that the necessary data can be obtained.

By commissioning this research, Intellect aims to provide an empirical framework for the development and implementation of effective policies and standards of good practice designed to encourage the recruitment, retention and promotion of women in the IT industry, thereby advancing the competitiveness of the UK IT industry within the international community.

Intellect believes the completion of this research will have the following benefits:

• The identification and comparison of strengths and weaknesses of the UK and other countries regarding the position of the women in the IT industry
• The potential to cross-reference sector strengths and weaknesses with corresponding market and policy information within an international framework
• The evaluation of strengths and weaknesses of UK policy and practice regarding women's employment that accounts for the differential impact of policy implementation, occupational culture and employee experience within different national, regional and institutional settings
• The location of sources of constraints on women's career development (e.g. at national, institutional and individual levels - and in the links between these levels)
• The identification of opportunities for intervention for Intellect and Government
• The development of effective action plans to be disseminated across the UK IT industry

The research will be undertaken with The University of Cambridge, who have an international reputation for delivering high quality, independent research to inform social policy and industrial development.

Intellect would like to thank the Department of Trade & Industry and IBM who, through sponsorship, have allowed this important piece of research to take place. 

If you are interested in becoming a sponsoring company contact:

Kate Whitehead
Programme Executive
T 020 7331 2005
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