Comments on: The New Business Case for Gender Diversity http://orbitchange.com/blog/2007/03/09/gender-diversity/ Sharad Sharma examines the transformation challenges facing the software industry Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:55:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Sharad Sharma http://orbitchange.com/blog/2007/03/09/gender-diversity/#comment-1055 Sun, 11 Mar 2007 07:54:33 +0000 http://orbitchange.com/blog/2007/03/09/gender-diversity/#comment-1055 Ashish - Good point about fathers also taking a break. As you point out corporations needs to do better in enabling part-time work, flexi-time, etc. Sometime back I had come across an article on ROWE, “results-only work environment" - see <a href="http://orbitchange.com/blog/2006/12/13/extreme-jobs/">here</a> - these concepts need to be embraced. Finally, the there is need for better transportation infrastructure. Right now it soaks away a lot of family time. Ashish - Good point about fathers also taking a break. As you point out corporations needs to do better in enabling part-time work, flexi-time, etc. Sometime back I had come across an article on ROWE, “results-only work environment” - see here - these concepts need to be embraced. Finally, the there is need for better transportation infrastructure. Right now it soaks away a lot of family time.

]]> by: Ashish http://orbitchange.com/blog/2007/03/09/gender-diversity/#comment-1034 Sat, 10 Mar 2007 04:31:14 +0000 http://orbitchange.com/blog/2007/03/09/gender-diversity/#comment-1034 Another challenge for a lot of two-professional families is to balance the demands of home and work. Usually this problem is solved by the woman giving up her professional career. In order to achieve a good mix of genders at different levels of the org we also need to see more men giving up their careers. Even more importantly, corporations need to fundamentally enable better work/life balance by supporting part time work at an institutional level. Another challenge for a lot of two-professional families is to balance the demands of home and work. Usually this problem is solved by the woman giving up her professional career. In order to achieve a good mix of genders at different levels of the org we also need to see more men giving up their careers. Even more importantly, corporations need to fundamentally enable better work/life balance by supporting part time work at an institutional level.

]]> by: Sharad Sharma http://orbitchange.com/blog/2007/03/09/gender-diversity/#comment-1020 Fri, 09 Mar 2007 17:29:21 +0000 http://orbitchange.com/blog/2007/03/09/gender-diversity/#comment-1020 Pravin, Srimathi, Rajeswari and Rekha, thanks for your comments. Rajeswari, you did a great job moderating the discussion. I quite enjoyed the session. Pravin, Srimathi, Rajeswari and Rekha, thanks for your comments. Rajeswari, you did a great job moderating the discussion. I quite enjoyed the session.

]]> by: Rekha http://orbitchange.com/blog/2007/03/09/gender-diversity/#comment-1002 Fri, 09 Mar 2007 10:01:30 +0000 http://orbitchange.com/blog/2007/03/09/gender-diversity/#comment-1002 I totally buy your point that the glass ceiling doesnt break just from below... a change in top management and a few strong role models are necessary who would drive the cause from above too. In my opinion, another major deterrant is the respect that women have for boundaries... this nature has been cultivated into us by our parents and teachers... it is a lot of social conditioning. It takes a conscious effort from a womans side to break free from this nature... And that should be the focus of initiatives like IWIN... and moreover, the attitude change has to come right from childhood... it is easier to build a nature at that age... the teachers and parents also have to take ownership for this. PS: It was really enriching to hear your POVs in yesterday's discussion. I totally buy your point that the glass ceiling doesnt break just from below… a change in top management and a few strong role models are necessary who would drive the cause from above too. In my opinion, another major deterrant is the respect that women have for boundaries… this nature has been cultivated into us by our parents and teachers… it is a lot of social conditioning. It takes a conscious effort from a womans side to break free from this nature… And that should be the focus of initiatives like IWIN… and moreover, the attitude change has to come right from childhood… it is easier to build a nature at that age… the teachers and parents also have to take ownership for this.

PS: It was really enriching to hear your POVs in yesterday’s discussion.

]]> by: Rajeswari Murali http://orbitchange.com/blog/2007/03/09/gender-diversity/#comment-1000 Fri, 09 Mar 2007 06:45:40 +0000 http://orbitchange.com/blog/2007/03/09/gender-diversity/#comment-1000 I absolutely agree with you - its not just the business imperatives - which the Catalyst study amply illustrates. Its`also the willingness of companies to get into a pull based strategy - it can still retain meritocracy - needs to be evangelized a lot more. The third point about women themselves, stepping out of the boundaries that society and history has imposed on them, will definitely add to the pressure to break the glass ceiling. Overall it was an interesting discussion and a refreshing change in listening to your perspective! I absolutely agree with you - its not just the business imperatives - which the Catalyst study amply illustrates. Its`also the willingness of companies to get into a pull based strategy - it can still retain meritocracy - needs to be evangelized a lot more. The third point about women themselves, stepping out of the boundaries that society and history has imposed on them, will definitely add to the pressure to break the glass ceiling.

Overall it was an interesting discussion and a refreshing change in listening to your perspective!

]]> by: srimathi Shivashankar http://orbitchange.com/blog/2007/03/09/gender-diversity/#comment-998 Fri, 09 Mar 2007 05:46:41 +0000 http://orbitchange.com/blog/2007/03/09/gender-diversity/#comment-998 I agree with you Sharad. Especially on the boundry part. Being in the diversity office, my challenges is how do I convince women on this! I agree with you Sharad. Especially on the boundry part. Being in the diversity office, my challenges is how do I convince women on this!

]]> by: Pravin http://orbitchange.com/blog/2007/03/09/gender-diversity/#comment-995 Fri, 09 Mar 2007 04:28:25 +0000 http://orbitchange.com/blog/2007/03/09/gender-diversity/#comment-995 Blog from Sharad after panel discussion yesterday... Blog from Sharad after panel discussion yesterday…

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