Eighteenth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

Technology firms such as Apple, Facebook, Google, and Twitter have released diversity reports. Examination of the data in many of these reports indicates that women occupy a limited presence within these firms. Moreover, women’s representation plummets as senior positions are examined. Insights and commentary have been offered by senior executives of these firms as well as representatives from traditional media outlets in attempts to explain this occurrence. Scant attention, however, has been placed on commentary in the blogosphere. Moreover, few studies examine the attitudes of future technology employees following the release of diversity reports. This study examines blogged comments associated with the lack of diversity within the technology sector. Thematic analysis is used to explore the nature of posted comments. Reactions associated with the reports may influence the employment appeal of technology firms. To investigate this dynamic, the organizational attractiveness attitudes of students majoring in Computer Science, Information Technology and Informatics, and Management Information Systems will also be assessed. Using the MANOVA technique, differences in attitudes based on academic discipline and biological sex will be explored.