| This phenomenological study identified skill sets, coping mechanisms, and strategies used by 20 executive-level women in information technology companies to sustain their positions within information technology companies. The study revealed invariant themes that emerged from analysis of interview transcripts. This study investigated these categories to gain a better understanding of the perceptions women face in organizations. This study also addressed issues pertinent to women competing for, and successfully remaining, at the executive levels of organizations, using information technology companies as a sample. The study began with 11 broad questions and revealed 24 relevant and significant themes and applicable invariant constituents: influences to join an information technology organization, requirements for obtaining an executive-level position, characteristics of executive-level women, feelings about being an executive representing women, number of executive-level positions held by women in their organizations, feelings about mentoring experience, feelings about equal employment opportunities (EEO) and affirmative action programs, feelings about competing with male peers, contributing factors for sustainment, importance of networking, preferred leadership style, feelings about disciplinary actions, feelings about handling stress, personality at home versus work environment, husbands, impact on family life, personality most liked by superiors, feelings about dress codes, methods for motivating employees, sacrifices, ways to break the glass ceiling, feelings about job security, highest level of formal education received, and ways to be recognized for executive-level positions. |
