IRSS Psychology Theory: Telling Experiences Among Underrepresented IS Doctorates |
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| Authors: | Fay Cobb Payton Sharon D White Victor W A Mbarika |
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| Institution: | Department of Business Management, North Carolina State University, College of Management, Box 7229, Raleigh, NC 27695, e-mail:; Department of Accounting and MIS, School of Business &Economics, Winston-Salem State University, 218 R.J. Reynolds Center, Winston-Salem, NC 27110, e-mail:; Department of Management, Marketing, and E-Business, College of Business, Southern University and A&M College, T.T. Allain Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70813, e-mail: |
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| Abstract: | With the changing demographics of the American workforce, the National Science Foundation, along with the U.S. Department of Commerce, has highlighted the shortage of minorities in information technology (IT) careers ( http://www.ta.doc.gov/Reports/itsw/itsw.pdf ). Using data from a 6‐year period and the psychology Involvement‐Regimen‐Self Management‐Social (IRSS) network theory as defined by Boice (1992) , we discuss lessons learned from mentoring a group of Information Systems doctoral students who are members of a pipeline that can potentially increase the number of underrepresented faculty in business schools and who made conscious decisions to renounce the IT corporate domain. While our lessons speak to the need for more diversity awareness, we conclude that effective mentoring for underrepresented groups can and should include faculty of color (though limited in numbers) as well as majority faculty who are receptive to the needs and cultural differences of these student groups. Lastly, we draw on the work of Ethnic America to provide additional insight into our findings that are not offered by IRSS network theory. |
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| Keywords: | Diversity Interpretivist Qualitative Research IT Education IT Workforce Mentoring Social Psychology Underrepresented Minorities |
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