Female information and communication technology professionals’ perceptive description of work and home intricacies

AbstractBased on biographical interviews from a telecommunications organisation, this study aims to contribute to the debate on understanding and accounting for the work-life balance intricacies of female Information and Communications Technology (ICT) professionals. An exploratory cross-sectional d...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Wiza Munyeka, Ashika Maharaj
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2023-12-01
Series:Cogent Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2023.2224990
Description
Summary:AbstractBased on biographical interviews from a telecommunications organisation, this study aims to contribute to the debate on understanding and accounting for the work-life balance intricacies of female Information and Communications Technology (ICT) professionals. An exploratory cross-sectional design adopting a qualitative case study approach with semi-structured interviews with 16 female ICT professionals was used. In male-dominated sectors, understanding female ICT Professionals’ perceptive description of work and home intricacies is essential. It leads to an understanding of the issues emanating from work-life balance. Participants perceived their careers as a large part of their self-identity and were very proud of the dedication and hard work required in the ICT field. Participants also found a sense of collegiality and camaraderie in the workplace, which gave them a sense of belonging and benefit to their self-worth. The findings may be used to adapt various organisational practices and understand the concept of family in ways that include responsibilities other than being a caregiver or homemaker. A more in-depth insight into individuals’ work-life balance intricacies was achieved by adopting a qualitative case study approach. The telecommunications organisation could utilise the results from this study to develop appropriate work-life balance and Human Resource strategies to create flexible workplaces conducive to the attraction, motivation, and retention of highly valued women.
ISSN:2331-186X