Career Progression of Women in the Indian IT Sector: Matching Talent Management Practices and Employee Perspectives

Women talent management is an important area of interest for organizations not only across the world but more specifically in India, a dynamic and fast growing emerging market where opportunities for female participation in the labour market are increasing yet traditional barriers persist. Research in this important area is sparse and this paper is an attempt to address this important research gap. In this paper we examine the major issues and challenges facing women managers in the Indian IT sector, perception of the talent management policies by women managers and the impact of talent management practices on career progression of women. We use a qualitative approach using in-depth interviews with HR managers, line managers and women managers in two IT organizations. Findings indicate that social, biological and family supports are the major factors influencing women managers’ participation and career progression in the company. Talent management policies were viewed positively while the perception of implementation with regards to performance appraisal and promotion decisions were viewed as constraints in women career progression. The support offered for women career development in both companies were of three types - Inspirational, developmental and facilitative with varying levels of emphasis in each of the two organizations.