Success in a science and engineering research environment in industry: the relationship between success, gender and area of research

Abstract

To gain insight into the way women and men researchers at the IBM T.J. Watson Research Center perceive success, a matched group of men and women was asked to reflect upon the accomplishments in their work with which they were especially satisfied. The answers show no significant gender differences, with the exception of a particularly competitive aspect of business leadership, which was mentioned most often by men. Interactive accomplishments, e.g., being a good team player, were mentioned least often by researchers in the math and science area. The lower ranking advisory engineers mentioned more interactive accomplishments and less academic leadership, e.g., seminal publications, than the higher ranking research staff members. On two external measures of success: salary and job performance rating, on overwork, and on work satisfaction, no significant gender differences were found.