Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

jeff47

(26,549 posts)
4. Aside from the gender issue, there's an advancement issue that cuts across gender.
Mon Feb 23, 2015, 11:32 AM
Feb 2015

Technology firms have a general advancement problem. Largely due to the variety of skillsets required.

It used to be that someone who was particularly good at a job eventually got promoted to supervisor/manager of that job. And then they'd work their way up the management chain. That's primarily the model still used in technology companies.

However, it really doesn't work well. It is extremely rare to find people who have good technical skills and good "people" skills. So you end up with people who have lots and lots of technical experience, but there's no where for them to advance. They aren't good at (or willing to) manage other people. But they're great at designing systems and other technical management.

The industry is going to need to develop two "advancement" tracks. First, so that there's somewhere for people to advance without managing other people.

And second, because there's a massive gaping hole in technical management at virtually all high-tech companies. Someone needs the authority of an executive, but only on technical matters so they don't have to manage people. Otherwise you get a whole lot of plans thought up by MBAs without any vision of what the system can really do, or what the system can't do.

That would help some of the women in the article - there would be somewhere for them to advance. Still wouldn't solve the sexism.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Latest Discussions»Alliance Forums»History of Feminism»LA Times: Women are leavi...»Reply #4