Writings

Doctoral Dissertation

Female Technolgy Managers' Perceptions of Diversity Hiring

Abstract

This study explored female managers’ perceptions of diversity hiring. Most diversity studies have used quantitative methodologies and have not explored the qualitative perceptions of diversity hiring. The study’s three research questions ask which personal attributes of employees should be diverse within an organization, for which jobs should diversity be a criterion in the employee selection process, and in which organizational situations should diversity be a criterion in the employee selection process. The study follows the qualitative methodology of generic qualitative inquiry and included in-depth interviews of twelve participants. The population for the study is female managers who work in technology companies, within the United States. Analysis of the data collected from interviews, observations, and artifact review occurred through open, axial, and selective coding. The study finds that these participants value diversity among a wide variety of employee personal attributes, jobs, and organizational situations. The implications for practice are that hiring practices can promote diversity when they reduce bias, make diversity a priority throughout the recruiting process, and use targeted sources to reach a wider spectrum of candidates. 

Six Months in the Former Soviet Union: To Russia with Love

This is a chronicle of my 1992 trip to Russia.  What started with a contract to release an album of music turned into a trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway, a summer of service, spiritual tests, and a love story.

Uncommon Knowledge

 Have you ever learned something and wondered why nobody had told you that previously?

This is a  list I have started of things I learned later instead of earlier. 

Maybe you will find them helpful.

* Don't eat pineapple that is not fresh; it can disrupt the microbiome in your mouth and allow harmful bacteria and fungi to grow.

* Never mix bleach and ammonia; the fumes are toxic and can be very harmful.

* It's easy to forget about annual physical exams, dental appointments, paying taxes, etc.  Here is a link to a Google spreadsheet I created to help track these sorts of important recurring events.

* The actual returns you get in a stock market investment are lower than the average returns, not even considering the fees that you are charged.  How can this be?  It is a mathematical reality.  If your portfolio goes down 50% and then up 50%, you've lost money.  The "average" return of 50% down and 50% up comes out to 0%, but in truth you have lost 25% of your portfolio's value.

* Never buy an investment you don't understand and never buy an investment home you are not willing to live in.

* Stock market investments can lose up to 100% of their value.  Bonds can lose their value as well.

* Depreciation recapture on an investment property can make it so the taxes on a property you sell exceed the value of the property.

* A person's body language does not necessarily correspond with their thoughts.  It is risky to make assumptions about a person's thoughts based on their external appearance or tone of voice.  Read Malcolm Gladwell's book Talking to Strangers for more insights into this phenomenon.

* If you are driving up a mountain, you might need snow chains.  Make sure they are the right size and that you know exactly how to put them on!

* If you are involved in a traffic incident or any other accident, it is helpful to take pictures, gather relevant information, and document it.

* When experiencing a "charley horse" cramp in your calf, extend your leg as much as possible.  This might seem counterintuitive, but it helps stop the cramp.

* Never use an outdoor heater indoors as the carbon monoxide gas can be fatal!

* Rust stains can be removed from a bathtub using half a lemon that is been dipped in salt.  (Test in an inconspicuous area to ensure that no damage will occur to the surface of the tub.)

* Tax preparers are human so check your tax returns for errors before they are submitted to the IRS!

* Digging a large pit in the sand can be dangerous and even fatal.  Sand is not stable and can collapse on the digger if the hole is too deep.

* Just because someone hands you something doesn’t mean you need to take it. Aggressive salespersons sometimes use this technique to get a person to stop and talk to them.

* Hard toothbrushes can cause permanent gum recession.