1. Jeria L. Quesenberry Ph.D. Candidate Center for the Information Society School of Information Sciences and Technology The Pennsylvania State University jquesenberry@ist.psu.edu The Role of Ubiquitous Information Environments in Work-Life Balance: Perspectives from Women in the IT Workforce

2. Agenda Introduction Background Methodology Initial Findings Conclusions Questions and Comments

3. Introduction Growth of Ubiquitous Information Environments and Work-Life Balance Issues Under-representation of Women in the IT Workforce Objective of This Study is to Investigate the Role of Ubiquitous Computing in Work- Family Balance from Perspective of Females in the IT Workforce

4. Background Work-Life Balance Models Consequences of Work-Life Imbalance Ubiquitous Information Environments in Work-Life Balance Related Social Issues

5. Methodology Overview Research Questions: 1.How do ubiquitous information environments impact work-life balance for females in the IT workforce? 2.What are the implications of these impacts for the under representation of women in the IT workforce? Research Design Data Collection Data Analysis Theory (Trauth, 2003) Research Question Trauth, E.M. (2003). “Qualitative Research in IST.” IST 597A: Qualitative Methods Course Presentation, March 27, 2003.

6. Methodology Research Study Piece of Larger Study of Women in the IT Workforce* –Interpretive Qualitative Research Study –Multi-Year Project with Female IT Practitioners and Academics –Represents Several Geographical Regions Data Collection –In-depth/Open Ended Interviews Lasted Approximately 90 Minutes in Length that Explore Three Main Areas Open Ended Coding Used to Analyze Data Emergent Theory of Individual Differences –Addresses Challenges to Theoretical Assumptions –Focuses on Differences within Rather than between Genders –Examines Issues at Individual Level Rather than Group Level *NSF Award EIA-0204246

7. Initial Findings Overview Positive –Financial Aspects –Communication –Telecommuting Negative –24/7 Workday –Rate of Technological Change –Telecommuting Significance

8. Conclusions Study Demonstrates that not All Women are the Same and Should not be Viewed as a Variable Group Contributes to Theory and Practice Implications of Study Future Research

9. Questions and Comments