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Gender in Executive Ireland: An Exploratory Study into the Impact of Gender on Career Progression

Cummins, Linda (2019) Gender in Executive Ireland: An Exploratory Study into the Impact of Gender on Career Progression. Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

Purpose: This research study aims to explore the challenges facing women in attaining senior leadership positions in large Irish organisations by obtaining the experiences of both male and females who currently occupy executive level position. The objective of this qualitative based study is to investigate the individual experiences of men and women who currently hold the title of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). It seeks to determine if the challenges and barriers for female career progression demonstrated in the literature, are represented in the modern work place in Ireland.

Approach / Design / Methodology: A qualitative study, applying semi-structured interviews, with a sample of five Chief Executive Officers from Irish organisations was undertaken to gather in depth insight into the male and female experience of gender and leadership. Interviews were conducted confidentially and were recorded, transcribed, reviewed and assessed. It is not intended for generalisations to be extrapolated from the research as the true value of the study is found in the detailed qualitative insight offered by the participants’ professional experiences.

Findings: Men continue to hold a distinct advantage in both the opportunity for, and achievement of, executive level positions in large Irish organisations. The small sample in the study, representative of Irish businesses, confirmed that men continue to occupy much of the senior leadership positions. These findings inform us that gender has a significant impact on career progression and concurs with the literature on the topic.

Originality / Value: This study enhances the knowledge and research in gender and leadership and the experiences of Chief Executive Officers in Ireland. When undertaking research under the topic of women in leadership, there was no evidence of a previous, peerreviewed qualitative study, specific to the senior executive leadership experience of Irish women. This research may help to close the gap in this knowledge taxonomy.

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management
H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman > Gender
H Social Sciences > HM Sociology > Leadership
H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > Human Resource Management > Leadership
H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Issues of Labour and Work > Classes of Labour > Women and Work
Divisions: School of Business > Master of Business Administration
Depositing User: Caoimhe Ní Mhaicín
Date Deposited: 17 Oct 2019 12:14
Last Modified: 17 Oct 2019 12:14
URI: https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/3959

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