Gender in Management: An International Journal

IS GENDER INCLUSIVITY AN ANSWER TO ETHICAL ISSUES IN BUSINESS? AN INDIAN STANCE : Table of Contents

Dr. Suveera Gill — Sat Nov 28 08:00:19 GMT 2009

Abstract:
Purpose - If females are more ethical than males as the literature on the subject generally suggests, engaging and encouraging females in their careers would certainly promote an ethical environment. The present paper is motivated by such a viewpoint and aims to investigate gender-based differences in the ethical disposition and the underlying dimensions in ethical decision making processes, by specific examination of business students.Design/methodology/approach - The main research instrument was a quantitative questionnaire through which the responses of 162 business students (45 females and 117 males) were examined. For data analysis univariate analysis by invoking one-way analysis of variance and multivariate approach using cluster analysis were conducted to investigate gender-based differences in the ethical disposition. To determine the underlying dimensions in ethical decision making processes, for female and male business students, the principal axis approach to factor analysis has been used.Findings - The findings provide evidence that female business students are more ethically predisposed than their male counterparts. It was further observed that males exhibited less diversity in ethical decision making while females more readily invoked different ethical dimensions for different business scenarios.Originality/value - The paper offers valuable insight into the role of gender in ethics in the context of Indian business. The fact that females appear to demonstrate greater sensitivity on ethical issues, suggests that practitioners might want to use this knowledge for developing their organizational strategies, ethical codes and evaluation systems. Further, the study also highlights the importance of realigning the curriculum in a manner that the teaching of ethics becomes an integral part of business school education.

The Career Progression of Women in State Government Agencies : Table of Contents

Dr. Maria Josephine D'Agostino, Dr. Helisse Levine — Sat Nov 28 08:00:19 GMT 2009

Abstract:
Purpose - The purpose of this exploratory research is to empirically examine the impact of the utilization of organizational practices on the upward mobility of women to executive positions in state-level government organizations in the United States. Design/methodology/approach - The design included an online survey instrument sent to a purposive sample of 600 female administrative agency executives in 50 states. A standard multilinear regression model tested the predictive power of three composite explanatory utilization variables on the dependent variable, mobility to upper level management. The composite predictor variables are: 1. Utilization of work/family practices 2. Utilization of diversity practices 3. Utilization of promotional practices Findings - Contrary to expectations, the relationship between mobility and family-friendly utilization does not appear to be statistically significant. However, the time it took respondents who utilized family-friendly practices in their organizations to reach upper-level management decreased by .037 years. And contrary to expectations, women who utilized promotion practices were more likely to achieve executive-level status, even though it didn’t necessarily take them less time to do so. Originality/value - This research is distinct from previous studies in that it considers the relationship between the utilization of practices and women’s attainment of executive-level positions.

CONTEXTUALIZING ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE BOUNDARYLESS CAREER : Table of Contents

Dr. Hytti Ulla — Sat Nov 28 08:00:19 GMT 2009

Abstract:
Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to conduct a narrative analysis of analyse how the transition into entrepreneurship is constructed in the context of the boundaryless career. The research focuses on a particular type of career transition driven by dismissal or unemployment. Design/methodology/approach - The research material was collected in life-story interviews with three Finnish female owner-managers. In the study a narrative analysis of the career move into entrepreneurship is conducted. Findings - The results demonstrate how the concept of the boundaryless career and career discourse as such, and the personal career history and the larger employment setting in particular, are applied in making sense of the transition into entrepreneurship. The significance of dismissal or unemployment is not uniform, but is dependent on the participant’s interpretation of the boundaryless career and work-based security. Entrepreneurship is constructed both as a gender-neutral and gendered process. Research limitations/implications - The career perspective could be more widely applicable to research into entrepreneurship, and perceiving entrepreneurship as work could offer an interesting avenue for future interdisciplinary study within career research.Practical implications - By portraying the transition from unemployment/redundancy into entrepreneurship as a normal career shift, entrepreneurship is potentially made accessible to a broader group of people including unemployed women. Narratives have potential to be applied as career management tools. Originality/value - The paper provides a contextualised view of the transition into entrepreneurship after unemployment and demonstrates how the entrepreneurship process is connected to the individual work history, employment setting, and gender.

The Role of Cultural Values in Understanding the Challenges faced by Female Entrepreneurs in Nigeria : Table of Contents

Dr. chima mordi, Dr. Ruth Simpson, Dr. satwinder singh, Dr. Chinonye Okafor — Sat Nov 28 08:00:19 GMT 2009

Abstract:
Purpose - This paper examines the challenges female entrepreneurs face in the development of their business in the context of Nigeria. In so doing, it addresses a gap in the literature on the experiences of female entrepreneurs in a non-Western context and acknowledges the contribution that women make in this area of work. Design/methodology/approach - It draws on survey data from 274 female entrepreneurs currently engaged in their businesses in three states—Lagos (Nigeria’s largest city), Ogun, and Oyo within the south west of NigeriaFindings - Results indicate that female entrepreneurs are generally confident and resourceful and that they enjoy the challenge of entrepreneurial activity. As in the West, they experience difficulties relating to family commitments and access to finance – as well as problems gaining acceptance and accessing networks.Research limitations/implications - It is argued that future research might uncover at a deeper level and drawing on qualitative methodology how some of the factors identified are experienced in women’s day to day lives.Practical implications - The paper suggests some policy implications in the form of support for female entrepreneurs in this contextOriginality/value - It is argued that cultural values specific to the situation mean that these challenges, while common to female entrepreneurs in other national contexts, ‘play out’ differentially and that they are experienced with different levels of depth and ‘intensity’.