Exploring characteristics that prevent the derailment of women leaders
- Authors: Nobre, Michelle
- Date: 2014-08-18
- Subjects: Leadership in women , Career development
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:12089 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/11835
- Description: Ph.D. (Human Resources Management) , This study explores the characteristics that prevent the derailment of women leaders. It further provides insight into leadership derailment as it is experienced and interpreted by women leaders. The study was done in the context of the scarcity of women in senior and executive leadership positions within organisations, whilst equality and transformation remain on the global leadership agenda, as well as the context of South African Transformation and Employment Equity Legislation. A qualitative study was undertaken based on the grounded theory research methodology. The purposeful and snowball sampling technique yielded five research participants. Through in-depth interviewing eleven themes emerged from the data. These were the personal and core constructs held by participants in relation to their conceptualization of the leadership landscape, derailment, and of themselves as leaders. While each participant‘s experience of derailment and the leadership landscape was unique, the findings of the study indicated that specific personal characteristics prevented their derailment or enabled them to overcome derailment. These were: pragmatic approach to gender issues and willingness to compromise, insight into behavior, positive outlook/optimism, building relationships and networks self-confidence and self-efficacy, resilience and coping, emotional maturity and managing emotions, recognition of significant others, achievement drive and perseverance, risk taking and openness to change, and balancing multiple roles. Whilst an exploration of the external factors leading to characteristics that prevent derailment as well as opting out and voluntary separation, was not the purpose of this study, emerging themes in respect to these were discussed. Finally, an integrated framework was formulated presenting the characteristics that prevent the derailment of women leaders.
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- Authors: Nobre, Michelle
- Date: 2014-08-18
- Subjects: Leadership in women , Career development
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:12089 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/11835
- Description: Ph.D. (Human Resources Management) , This study explores the characteristics that prevent the derailment of women leaders. It further provides insight into leadership derailment as it is experienced and interpreted by women leaders. The study was done in the context of the scarcity of women in senior and executive leadership positions within organisations, whilst equality and transformation remain on the global leadership agenda, as well as the context of South African Transformation and Employment Equity Legislation. A qualitative study was undertaken based on the grounded theory research methodology. The purposeful and snowball sampling technique yielded five research participants. Through in-depth interviewing eleven themes emerged from the data. These were the personal and core constructs held by participants in relation to their conceptualization of the leadership landscape, derailment, and of themselves as leaders. While each participant‘s experience of derailment and the leadership landscape was unique, the findings of the study indicated that specific personal characteristics prevented their derailment or enabled them to overcome derailment. These were: pragmatic approach to gender issues and willingness to compromise, insight into behavior, positive outlook/optimism, building relationships and networks self-confidence and self-efficacy, resilience and coping, emotional maturity and managing emotions, recognition of significant others, achievement drive and perseverance, risk taking and openness to change, and balancing multiple roles. Whilst an exploration of the external factors leading to characteristics that prevent derailment as well as opting out and voluntary separation, was not the purpose of this study, emerging themes in respect to these were discussed. Finally, an integrated framework was formulated presenting the characteristics that prevent the derailment of women leaders.
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Rose or thorn? : a black South African woman's account of working in a male-dominated environment
- Tabudi, Sizile Aurelia Thulisile
- Authors: Tabudi, Sizile Aurelia Thulisile
- Date: 2010-10-26T07:19:52Z
- Subjects: Leadership in women , Black women , Sex role in the work environment , Women executives , Sex discrimination in employment
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:6940 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3450
- Description: D.Phil. , The major part of what is known about women in leadership positions, and the challenges they are facing, is based on studies conducted in first-world countries. There clearly is a gap in the literature in terms of studies that focus on female leaders in Africa. Much has still to be said about the role that cultural practices and prejudices play in hampering the growth and progress of these women. This authentic study of a South African Zulu female manager provides a unique insight into the way she negotiated the challenges of climbing the corporate ladder in a male-dominated environment. Its postmodernist approach challenges the writer to use herself as a research subject while applying the principle of reflexivity in stepping back and analysing lived experiences from a researcher‟s perspective. In opening up her innermost feelings to the world, the researcher reveals who she really is, and how she, as a Zulu woman, wife, mother, and manager, negotiated her way between her own traditional culture and the Western corporate world. This creates real challenges to the researcher, as she has to keep sliding between being the subject and being the researcher at the same time. This narrative of "self" is recreated through interviewing people who had been part of the researcher‟s life during the period which was the focus of the study as well as the researcher recalling significant events. The research focuses on the challenges of being a minority leader in a South African workplace. The resistance to a black female as their superior by black males is highlighted, as is the manner in which these cultural prejudices result in discrimination against women by members of their own culture. The research also illuminates the impact of legislation aimed at transforming the local workplace and the leadership fraternity in a post-apartheid South Africa.
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- Authors: Tabudi, Sizile Aurelia Thulisile
- Date: 2010-10-26T07:19:52Z
- Subjects: Leadership in women , Black women , Sex role in the work environment , Women executives , Sex discrimination in employment
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:6940 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3450
- Description: D.Phil. , The major part of what is known about women in leadership positions, and the challenges they are facing, is based on studies conducted in first-world countries. There clearly is a gap in the literature in terms of studies that focus on female leaders in Africa. Much has still to be said about the role that cultural practices and prejudices play in hampering the growth and progress of these women. This authentic study of a South African Zulu female manager provides a unique insight into the way she negotiated the challenges of climbing the corporate ladder in a male-dominated environment. Its postmodernist approach challenges the writer to use herself as a research subject while applying the principle of reflexivity in stepping back and analysing lived experiences from a researcher‟s perspective. In opening up her innermost feelings to the world, the researcher reveals who she really is, and how she, as a Zulu woman, wife, mother, and manager, negotiated her way between her own traditional culture and the Western corporate world. This creates real challenges to the researcher, as she has to keep sliding between being the subject and being the researcher at the same time. This narrative of "self" is recreated through interviewing people who had been part of the researcher‟s life during the period which was the focus of the study as well as the researcher recalling significant events. The research focuses on the challenges of being a minority leader in a South African workplace. The resistance to a black female as their superior by black males is highlighted, as is the manner in which these cultural prejudices result in discrimination against women by members of their own culture. The research also illuminates the impact of legislation aimed at transforming the local workplace and the leadership fraternity in a post-apartheid South Africa.
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The perceptions of professional women regarding the roles of females in the corporate communication environment
- Authors: Pooe, Dineo
- Date: 2008-06-26T08:57:55Z
- Subjects: Leadership in women , Feminism research , Corporate culture research , Communication in management
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:9975 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/736
- Description: South Africa has in the last 13 years experienced rapid changes in various spheres including the political, social and economic spheres. These changes constantly pose a challenge to the status quo and more so, in the socio-economic arena. This implies that, in business, the impact of utilising all the available resources, in particular the human resources efficiently, has to be constantly reviewed in line with these changes. Women as part of the previously marginalised human resource are increasingly raising questions about their roles and their participation in the economy of the country. Various organisations such as the Commission on Gender Equality, Gender Links, Business Women’s Association and many other state agencies are creating opportunities that allow women to debate and express women’s issues and concerns constructively. These issues and concerns range broadly from matters on health, safety, education, employment and so on, to specific issues that affect particular sectors, in this instance, issues affecting women in the corporate communication environment. In this study the manner in which women in the filed of corporate communication perceive their roles is examined. A qualitative strategy is used to explore the perceptions of all the selected participants who practise corporate communication in various industries, in the Greater Johannesburg area. The criteria and method of selecting the sample is clarified in the research methodology section. Existing literature about the field of corporate communication and about the roles of women in the workplace is reviewed to obtain understanding of the current scenario. The theories of feminism are also studied carefully in order to gain in-depth understanding about the relevant theoretical framework. The outcome of this study will be utilised to advance debates and dialogues about the status and role of women not only in the corporate communication environment, but also in the socio-political and socio-economic spheres. , Dr. Ilse Niemann-Struweg
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- Authors: Pooe, Dineo
- Date: 2008-06-26T08:57:55Z
- Subjects: Leadership in women , Feminism research , Corporate culture research , Communication in management
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:9975 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/736
- Description: South Africa has in the last 13 years experienced rapid changes in various spheres including the political, social and economic spheres. These changes constantly pose a challenge to the status quo and more so, in the socio-economic arena. This implies that, in business, the impact of utilising all the available resources, in particular the human resources efficiently, has to be constantly reviewed in line with these changes. Women as part of the previously marginalised human resource are increasingly raising questions about their roles and their participation in the economy of the country. Various organisations such as the Commission on Gender Equality, Gender Links, Business Women’s Association and many other state agencies are creating opportunities that allow women to debate and express women’s issues and concerns constructively. These issues and concerns range broadly from matters on health, safety, education, employment and so on, to specific issues that affect particular sectors, in this instance, issues affecting women in the corporate communication environment. In this study the manner in which women in the filed of corporate communication perceive their roles is examined. A qualitative strategy is used to explore the perceptions of all the selected participants who practise corporate communication in various industries, in the Greater Johannesburg area. The criteria and method of selecting the sample is clarified in the research methodology section. Existing literature about the field of corporate communication and about the roles of women in the workplace is reviewed to obtain understanding of the current scenario. The theories of feminism are also studied carefully in order to gain in-depth understanding about the relevant theoretical framework. The outcome of this study will be utilised to advance debates and dialogues about the status and role of women not only in the corporate communication environment, but also in the socio-political and socio-economic spheres. , Dr. Ilse Niemann-Struweg
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