•  
  •  
 
Communications of the Association for Information Systems

Author ORCID Identifier

Sam Zaza: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9900-847X

Abrar AlHasan: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1662-6417

Xuefei (Nancy) Deng: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4326-675X

Deborah J. Armstrong: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8824-045X

Abstract

This study is a methodological replication of the paper, “What Motivates First-generation College Students to Consider an IT Career? An Integrative Perspective” by Deng, Zaza, and Armstrong (2023). This study analyzed 155 responses from students in a public university in Kuwait to investigate how the interaction between gender and generational status, specifically first-generation (FGSs) versus continuing-generation (CGS) college students, influences motivations to pursue an information technology (IT) career. This replication reinforces core motivating factors such as interest, perceived job opportunity, stereotype, and lack of technical capital while revealing substantial contextual divergence. For instance, while social and economic capital did not emerge in the Kuwait context, context-specific motivators emerged such as altruism, career characteristics, and enjoyment emerged, reflecting deeper psychological and cultural influences. While the original study highlighted stereotypes as a barrier for women, this replication found that in Kuwait, stereotypes were a more significant motivator for CGS students of both genders. This suggests that, in the emerging digital economy, the cultural lens of IT is still influenced by societal influences and evolving labor markets. These interrelated dynamics underscore the need to develop culturally sensitive, inclusive strategies that not only attract students into IT career pathways but also ensure their sustained participation in the emerging global IT workforce.

Download

Share

COinS
 

When commenting on articles, please be friendly, welcoming, respectful and abide by the AIS eLibrary Discussion Thread Code of Conduct posted here.