Paths and Barriers to Positions of Leadership in Software Development - A study through the female ‘lens

Abstract

Studies inthefieldsofBusiness,Managementand SoftwareEngineeringhaveshownthatwomenmakeupan important demographicofthework-forceandarecontributing members totheirworkenvironments,howeverthereisstilla significant gender-gapinmanyfieldsincludingsoftwareengi- neering.Thegendergapinpositionsoftechnicalleadership in softwaredevelopmentisevenlargerdespitethecomparable performancebetweenmen-andwomen-ledstart-ups.Thisstudy aims toinvestigatethecauseofthelackoffemalerepresentation in technicalleadershippositionsinsoftwaredevelopmentby examining thepathsfemaletechnicalleadershavetaken,the barriers orobstaclestheyhavefacedandthewaysinwhichthey havemitigatedthosebarriersorobstacles.