Provided is the graph showing the percentage of senior development positions by men in three companies; IBM, Microsoft, and Apple in the span of three decades from 1980 to 2010.
Overall, the data reveals that IBM consistently led the upward trend, while Apple and Microsoft grew at more moderate rates. IBM experienced a sharp increase in 1995 and again in 2010, with the latter reaching more than 60%. Apple climbed from above 10-15% in the early years to approximately 25% in 2010. Microsoft increased gradually throughout the period up until 2010 when it approximately reached 45%.
All three companies started with relatively low proportions, with each remaining under 20% until 1985. By 1990, IBM had climbed to slightly above 10%, closing the gap with the other two companies after it was recorded the lowest in the earlier years. In 1995, the figures for all companies showed a noticeable growth. This growth remained steady until 2000, after which the three companies began to rise at varying rates. The percentages peaked over 50% for IBM, and over 40% for Microsoft. In the meantime, Apple reached slightly above where it was in 1995, moving steadily between 20-25%.