Trailblazing Purposefully: Narrative Analysis of Female Chief Information Officers Accounts

TRAILBLAZING PURPOSEFULLY: NARRATIVE ANALYSIS OF FEMALE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICERS’ ACCOUNTS OF THEIR PATH TO

LEADERSHIP IN HIGHER EDUCATION

A dissertation submitted

Rola M. Othman

Benedictine University

in partial fulfillment

of the requirements for the degree of

Doctor of Education

Higher Education and Organizational Change

Benedictine University

December 2016

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

b-ismi-llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīmi

In the name ofGod,the Most Gracious,the Most Merciful

Thank God for all HIS guidance, mercy and love. Without God’s blessings, I would not have been able to complete this phase in my life.

This is the opportunity to thank all the people who in some way were pivotal and who significantly contributed to the completion of this degree.

I want to start by thanking my husband, Mousa Alshair. Thank you for your complete and unwavering support throughout this entire process. Your gifts of loyalty, patience, faith, and love will always be treasured. You are my inspiration.I will forever love YOU.

Ahmad Alshair and Kamal Alshair, the children that raised themselves, while momma was busy, I love you guys so much. You are the “REAL” deal and our main “CHANCE” at happiness. Without you, I would not be the strong woman I am today. Thank you for all the crazy lessons and making parenting tolerable and fun. Saleh Zayed, my “third” child, thanks for the nasty spaghetti. You need cooking classes, but it’s great that you tried.

My mother, Amneh (Ohanna)Othman, for you, I am bringing home the velvet.

My father, Mahmoud Othman, thank you for giving me my first “real” job after college and supporting me when I left it.

The systerhood of Lina (Linn), Abir (Abby), Rahaf (Rae), and Ronza (Ronnie), you are my best friends forever. My life would be so incomplete without you. My special love to Abir, who is also my soul sister. I do not know what I would or where I would be without you. I cannot wait to travel to Mars with you.

The plethora of nieces and nephews, those who aspire to be the next generation of doctors, nurses, engineers and world leaders, the world is your oyster. Don’t wait for it. Go out there and make things happen. Make the world a better place. Everything comes from hard work and perseverance. Never give up your dreams. You will achieve them.

Icannot forget the brothers, Zayed and Abraham, and their wives, Bahija and Najwan;support comes in all forms, even if it is lame jokes. Thank you for yours, they often brightened my days.

My SXU and IT family, especially my team past and present, thank you for all your support through the years. My special thanks to the “M” team andAmeen Mansur and Mark Fruhwirth for always being so very helpful and stepping up to plate each and every time. Molly Gaik and Dan Lichter, thank you for being so encouraging and supportive.

My friends in the computer science department, Dr. Jean Mehta, Dr. Florence Appel, Dr. James Aman, and Dr. Donald Fricker, I will forever be grateful for your guidance and encouragement. Mentors come in all shapes and sizes, you are without a doubt the best out there.

My Navy buddies, Dr. Frank Delatorre and Ali Nelson,I would never have been able to complete the HEOC course work without your endless faith. Thank you for your kindness and unwavering confidence in me.I will especially be grateful forFrank’s persistent nagging to get the dissertation done. I will be forever grateful for your relentlessness. My appreciation goes to my classmate, Dr. Wilson “Ken” Woo, whose encouraging and motivating communications would appear out of the blue just when I needed them.

Sister Denis O’Grady (God bless her soul and memory), people come into our lives and impact them so profoundly that every day is a reminder on how much our life’s path would have been different if those people did not come into it. My life was completely changed because of you and I will forever be blessed because you took me under your wing and made me a better person. I have so much love for this woman. We will see each other again, in the afterlife.

I am truly grateful to friend Dr. Tatiana Tatum, who keeps me grounded and talks me through all my stressful moments.

I extend special heartfelt thanks to the women who traversed this journey with me, my participants. You are truly inspirational.

I sincerely appreciate my dissertation committee:

Dr. Marilyn Drury without your research, I would not have been able to do mine. Thank you for being a true trailblazer and example to those of us aspiring for a better future for women in and outside the field of higher education technology leadership. I sincerely appreciate your time, talent, and suggestions. Your insights allowed me to explore different areas within my research and helped strengthen my findings.

Dr. Tamara Korenman, thank you for your words of encouragement and support. I will be forever be grateful for the invaluable advice and support you offered to me throughout this process.

And finally, to Dr. Antonina Lukenchuk, God sends us angels in all forms; you have truly been mine these past few years. I can never thank you enough for your unwavering encouragement and support. Your dedication to your students and your passion for research are awe-inspiring. Your guidance and consistent positive feedback were undeniably the reason I am able to finish this research. I have so much respect and love for you. It will last forever. I want to be just like you. I am sure it will not be easy because your talents can not be duplicated, but I will aim high and one day achieve all of my goals because you taught me that I can. You are my hero.

DEDICATION

Goals in life are rarely, if ever, achieved alone. The first 21 years of my life, I had my family to support me as I grew and developed. In these past 22 years, my travels have been merged with my best friend, my soul mate, my other half, my true love; my wonderful and lovely husband, Mousa Alshair. My husband immigrated to the United States so that he could complete his education. Due to financial restrictions and other circumstances beyond his control, he was never able to attain his degree and realize one of his dreams.Nevertheless, he unwaveringly supported me as I worked towards my own goals. It was with his encouragement that I returned for my dual master’s and for this doctorates. He tells me daily that when I succeed, he succeeds. Mousa’s generosity knows no bounds. I could not have completed this portion of my journey without him. This degree belongs to both of us.

I dedicate this accomplishment to my husband, Mousa Alshair, because without him, I would not have reached this momentous goal. I look forward to the next 22 years and beyond as we achieve our dreams together.

I would like to pay particular homage to my mother, Amneh Othman. Her strength in overcoming oppressive environments with unwavering self-determination is the guiding light for my own development. It is because of her, that I am able to forge ahead and succeed in this world.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...... iii

LIST OF TABLES...... xiii

LIST OF FIGURES...... xiv

ABSTRACT...... xv

CHAPTER ONE: DIFFICULT QUESTIONS...... 1

Statement of the Problem...... 3

Research Purposes and Questions...... 6

Significance of the Study...... 7

CHAPTER TWO: TRAVELING BACKWARD...... 11

Invention of the Chief Information Officer (CIO)...... 13

Information Resource Management (IRM) Paradigm...... 13

Chief Information Officer Functions and Roles...... 14

Aspiring for Higher Education Leadership...... 15

CIO Overview in Higher Education...... 15

What Is a Higher Education Chief Information Officer?...... 16

Evolving Profession...... 17

Physiognomies of Higher Education CIOs...... 19

Women in Higher Education: The Intersections of Leadership, Information

Technology, and Identity...... 22

Women in Higher Education...... 22

Identity Formation: Awareness and Gaps...... 25

Leadership: Theoretical Approaches...... 28

Transformational Leadership...... 29

Authentic Leadership...... 29

Women and Leadership: The Female Advantage...... 30

Summary...... 34

CHAPTER THREE: HAPPY ACCIDENTS...... 37

Conceptualizing the Study Through the Lens of Narrative Inquiry...... 40

Narrative Research Design: Three-Dimensional Approach and the Participants.....45

Sources of Data and Their Collection Strategies...... 49

Interviews...... 50

Other Sources of Data...... 51

Analyzing Narrative Data...... 52

Validation Criteria and Research Ethics...... 56

My Researcher’s Self...... 60

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS I...... 62

The Transcendent Rise of the Female Chief Information Officer...... 62

The Female Chief Information Officers’ Professional Journeys: Personal Accounts..63

The Journey to Chief Information Officer: Individual Epigraphs...... 65

Abby: “The Soldier”...... 65

Linn: “The Zen Master”...... 77

Ohanna: “The Inquisitor”...... 86

Rae: “The Helper”...... 94

Ronnie: “The Storyteller”...... 100

Ophelia: “The Graceful”...... 104

Reflection...... 111

CHAPTER FIVE: DATA ANALYSIS II...... 112

The Interpretive Dance...... 112

Importance of Support Systems...... 113

Familial...... 113

Mentors...... 122

Roadblocks to Success...... 124

Financial Challenges...... 124

Lack of Support...... 127

Experiencing Gender Challenges...... 134

Coming to Terms With Who and What I Am: Identity Confirmed and Challenged....157

Dual Roles...... 158

Personal Characteristics...... 161

Enacting Leadership: The Chief Information Officer...... 169

Vision...... 169

Adapting to Change...... 172

A Seat At the Table...... 184

Creating and Diversifying Her Portfolio: What’s In the Tool Belt?...... 192

Being the Translator In a Babylonian World...... 208

Inspiring the Next Generation...... 215

Reflections...... 222

CHAPTER SIX: TRAILBLAZING INTO THE FUTURE...... 225

Beyond the Glass Ceiling: Navigating the Labyrinth...... 225

The Road to Success...... 227

Following the Breadcrumbs...... 227

Educational Achievements...... 228

Career Growth...... 229

A Bottomless Bucket...... 231

Overcoming the Hurdles...... 233

The Tide of Change...... 233

Who Am I? I Am a Fearless Mensch...... 235

Importance of Support Systems and Relationships...... 239

Inside the Core...... 240

Outside the Core...... 241

Mean Girls...... 242

The Only Female In the Room...... 243

The C-Suite...... 246

Moving Forward: Recommendations for Further Research...... 248

A New Beginning...... 251

REFERENCES...... 255

APPENDIX A: Interview Guide...... 271

APPENDIX B: Informed Consent Form...... 275

APPENDIX C: Coding Sample...... 278

LIST OF TABLES

TablePage

1. Demographics of the Female Chief Information Officers...... 64

2. Descriptive words used by CIOs about themselves...... 168

LIST OF FIGURES

Figures...... Page

1. Descriptive words used by CIOs about themselves in a visual presentation...... 167

2. Educational and career pathway to the CIO position...... 230

ABSTRACT

The next five to 10 years American higher education institutions will be facing a 50% retirement surge of their executive technology leadership that will result in a shortage of qualified candidates to fill these openings. Furthermore, numbers are on the decline of females in and aspiring to become the chief information officer (CIO) in higher learning. The exodus of those retiring presents opportunities for female jobseekers and institutional leaders to help fill the gap. The field of technology has been historically “imbricated with masculine culture” (Bury, 2011, p. 34). There is a small number of women who have entered and successfully sustained in the role. Who is the female “trailblazer” who penetrated the predominately male field of executive technology leadership in higher education? What is her path to the CIO position? What can we learn from her experiences to help advance the next generation of female technologist as she seeks the CIO leadership role?

The goal of this narrative research was to share first-hand accounts of these female leaders’ experiences, illuminate pathways they have taken, and uncover vital information that answers the questions presented as well as add to the limited literature available on the female information technology leaders. In essence, my aim was to explore ways by which women advance their professional careers toward the position of a chief information officer in higher education and define themselves as leaders and persons while on the path to this position. Six female chief information officers participated in this narrative research encircled by the three-dimensions of interaction, continuity, and situation. The seven common threads that emerged from the participants’ narratives are: (a) Importance of Support Systems; (b) Roadblocks to Success; (c) Coming to Terms with Who and What I Am: Identity Confirmed and Problematized; (d) Creating and Diversifying Her Portfolio: What’s in the Tool Belt; (e) Enacting Leadership: The Chief Information Officer; (f) Being the Translator in a Babylonian World; and (g) Inspiring the Next Generation. As these females progressed to the top information technology spot, they not only developed their identities, but they found their voices and used their voices to advance their careers, and become leaders who change and transform institutions of higher learning. This study can assist female aspirants as they prepare for this leadership position as well as give institutions the opportunity to formulate strategies, policies, and approaches to better recruit and retain the next generation of female information technology leaders.

CHAPTER ONE: DIFFICULT QUESTIONS

~Arabic Proverb

My story began at the ripe age of seven. It started with a plane ride that took my family and me from the land of milk and honey to the land where dreams come true. One’s life path is never as simple as a plane ride from point A to point B. Can an individual’s very essence be mapped on a A to B grid? As we forge forward toward our chosen destinies, our identities are formed and reformed. I truly believe that as individuals, we have the ability to deliberately and purposefully construct our journeys. Our haecceity leads each of us toward our chosen destination. Although, the path to get there is unknown, it is my belief that through “drawing portraits of individuals and documenting their voices, and their visions” (Miller & Salkind, 2002, p. 148), a map for others to use can be constructed. Reflecting on the long plane ride that brought my mother and her five children to the United Statesas well asother events while growing up, I continue to be in awe of my mother’scompetence, determination, independence, and courage. She left her home, her family, and all that was known to trek a new journey. My mother’s sheer determination to give her children the opportunities denied her; inspire and motivate me to reach for my goals. Her story involves many challenges and heartaches. She overcame poverty and illiteracy to be a role model, business owner, and major leader in the community. My mother did this while balancing the role of homemaker, wife, and mother. The essence and empowerment of my mother is in her lived experiences. Her story continues, her destiny not so defined; but it is the life lessons that she has provided that will lead me to achieve greater things in life. In paying it forward, it is now my turn to inspire and motivate others to reach their goals. My aim is to examine ways that motivate and inspire other females toward higher education leadership, specifically in information technology.

The chief information officer (CIO) in business and in higher education has been viewed as a “savior” (Grover, Seung-Ryul, Kettinger, & Lee, 1993, p. 108) as well as the medium for transformational change in corporations and post-secondary institutions (Pitkin, 1993). Atkinson (2013) asserted:“CIOs are in a unique position to exploit their knowledge of business and technology to influence or drive thedirection of an organization’s transformation” (p.1). While the CIO continues to be responsible for day-to-day technology operations, this role is the most important to drive internal and external innovation. This leader is in a “perfect position to lead this evolutionary revolution” (Burrus, 2013, p. 39). Learning and sharing the lived experiences of those female technology leaderswho came before us present the potential paths for this through story learning:

The power of the story is its ability to change your life. And not just yours, but other people’s lives as well. Perhaps you identify with a character, or share a similar challenge. Perhaps you learned how to imagine your life differently and better. Maybe it set you on a path of discovery that led to a realization of what you wanted to do, or become. (Creswell, 2008, p. 13)

Stories engage. Stories inspire. Stories inform. Stories motivate. Stories link us to the past and contour our future. Stories shape us as we shape them. Narratives help express our view of life; they expand our lived experiences in ways that can “interpret raw facts and proofs to create reality” (Simmons, 2007 p.3) and allows others access to our very existence. Every single one of us has stories toshare. What stories do we make in life that can alter our directions or devise our paths? These narratives “change perceptions of what is true, important, and thus, real” (Simmons, 2007, p. 3). A story helps us construct our identity as it is formed by forces within and beyond our control.

The story of the chief information officer in higher education remains somewhat untold. This senior executive role responsible for information and communication technology in higher education institutions is fairly new and has only been in existence for 39 years. Higher education “has no defined career path for CIOs, nor is there any certification, degree, or even a common body of knowledge that such a person should have mastered in order to fulfill this kind of position effectively” (Hawkins, 2004bp.9). How can I prepare professionally and personally for this position? How can others who also aspire to become technology leaders plan? How can higher education leaders recruit and retain talented information technology executives who can advance mission and vision?

Statement of the Problem

Technology is ubiquitous and pervasive. Organizations must continue to innovate and meet the rising technological demands. According to Elzarka (2012), in higher education, the growing mandates for technology by students, faculty, and administrators require technology leaders to innovate, produce, and compete. Brown and McClure (2009) asserted that the higher education chief information officer role is very complex. These leaders must show technical acumen, expertise within higher education, excellent communication skills, and political shrewdness as well as many other attributes. Researchers suggest that a large number of higher education CIOs will be exiting the field within the next 10 years, begging the question as to who will be taking their places. The next generation of CIOs needs to come ready and prepared for filling the senior technology leader position in higher education (Brown, 2011). Higher learning institutions depend on technology leaders to provide strategic directions and support of informational, instructional, research, and infrastructural technologies (Brown, 2011). Information technology (IT) leaders are tasked with excelling at supporting the various and changing technology services for a range of customers, 24/7, 365 days a year (Brown, 2011). Fifty percent of executive technology leaders in higher education will retire within the next five to 10 years (Brown, 2011). This predicted exodus of executive IT leaders will result in a shortage of qualified candidates to fill these openings (Brown, 2011; Drury, 2009). According to Brown (2013), 79% top senior IT leaders (CIOs) in higher education are male.Although the gender difference in the CIO position is higher than female CIO corporate representation, Brown (2010) claimed that the most recent research shows a decline in females moving to the CIO position in higher education and the corporate sector. Researchers report that the number of female CIOs in higher education in 2012has decreased to 21% from the previous year of 22% (Brown, 2013). Women who do seek higher education CIO or other IT leadership roles are doubly challenged because “they must overcome barriers related to the traditionally male-dominated higher education organization as well as those related to the traditionally male-dominated IT field” (Drury, 2011, p. 97).While the contemporary higher education CIO is described as predominately male,“more females are on the verge of entering the CIO ranks” (DeSanto, 2012, p. 121). How can these female CIOs who are on the verge and other IT females prepare to sustain and move the field of their practice forward?