Draft Letter to Technology Industry Representatives from Information Technology Professionals in the African Union 6th Region
Dear industry representatives,
This letter outlines the problem of a lack of standards in practices and procedures for incorporating inclusion, representation, and transparency in technology administration. The purpose of this letter is to identify some of the policies which allow for the adoption of practices, identify common themes in organizations, and evaluate some of the existing theories for which may define root problems.
Business owners, academics, technology workers, and customers understand the experiences we endure as creators and consumers in the phenomenon of the inequity crisis in the current field of information technology. Lip service often encourages more harm than addressing the blatant and overt bias in the field today. Theories to explain the current crisis may include post-colonial theory, critical race theory or elite theory. However, theoretical saturation may mute the point of a collective predicament we obviously face in technology.
The phenomenon of the diversity catastrophe is the shared life experiences of participants in technology and those on the outskirts of the digital divide. The technological environment should not serve as a vehicle to enact bigotry and hate when it can as easily serve to promote peace and love. Notions concerning why existing theoretical constructs may not explain this phenomenon may be equal in span to the many years our problem is overdue. A historical context may provide guidance on solutions or may just serve as models for the future ahead.
One of the obstacles observed in understanding this study is the lack of information available to research the problem. Organizations, both academic and industry, may make a pledge to awareness of this dilemma by offering statistics to serve research. Another obstacle observed in this study is an emphasis on the importance of leadership commitment. Changes start from the top and if leadership is unwilling to account for themselves, organizations follow. With the vast resources available, researchers may be assured of the necessary tools for achieving solutions. Diversity may be perceived as a common theme in the crisis of institutions.
Of additional hindrance to potential resolution of diversity issues and bias in industry, are the need for international policies and regulations concerning trade and employment worldwide. Sustainable development requires adherence to labour and trade policies that communicate a commitment to ethics in labour practices. Diversity is an integral part in permitting representation for sustainable international information and logistics systems.
For this reason we seek a thorough analysis of the current crisis to present viable solutions for improving the field. Ethical concerns regarding the diversity of the field of information technology sets a dangerous precedent for the future of the technology industry. Ignoring calls for change demonstrates a lack of interest in pursuing nothing other than profits and represents a failure of the reciprocal trust necessary for offering a chance for the next generation of professionals and organizations to prosper.
Diversity has moved from an issue to a crisis and may now grow to become a mission critical error for the field of information technology. Workarounds and temporary remedies have succeeded to little avail. Now is the time for the industry to enact real solutions to real problems or face becoming irrelevant in the eyes of the public.
Sincerely,
Dr. Tamaro Green DS
A representative of the African Union 6th Region Technology Professionals
