Back to the future of women in technology: insights from understanding the shortage of women in innovation sectors for managing corporate foresight

ABSTRACT

This paper investigates why there is a shortage of women in innovation, such as science, particularly technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) sectors and offers insights for managing corporate foresight. It acknowledges that traditional corporate foresight methodologies have their own inherent problems, but argues that greater inclusion of women brings in new dimensions not previously recognised within the predominantly male-dominated technology sector. While extant feminist research may look at the general disadvantages women have in the workplace, few have examined the genesis and constitution of femininity to understand what new input can be brought innovation management, and how these different views can change the conduct of corporate foresight in the technology sector. Interviews from five senior personnel in the technology sector were conducted, and responses to a concise questionnaire involving 365 participants were obtained. Three case-rich narratives are presented as a summary on the future of women in technology.

KEYWORDS:

• Corporate foresight
• technology management
• women in management
• innovation management

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Dr Vinh Sum Chau is a senior lecturer in strategy, at the Kent Business School, University of Kent. He is an associate editor of the European Management Review, and a former associate editor of the British Journal of Management. He is also a track chair in performance management of the annual British Academy of Management conference.

Chanell Quire offered research assistance on the project from which this paper draws its findings while she was at the Kent Business School, University of Kent. She is now employed in the services sector in London.