Female and Management Positions - Essay Example

? Research Proposal for Female and Management Positions Task Introduction The UAE has committed itself to the advancement of their women in leadership roles. The authorities have seen an urge to advance women into more managerial roles. This is to be done while maintaining their vital cultural identities along with heritage as they adopt the best western practices. The women in the region form only 20% of their public sector, and this is mainly in the government and the educational sector. About 30% of women in government positions are in decision making positions. Even though the women’s enrolment in institutions of higher learning is on the increase, the same has not been replicated in their participation in economic matters (McCrohan & Preiss, 2006). Their participation in economic affairs has increased by less than 7% since the year 1985 as compared to their enrolment in tertiary institutions, which has grown by more than 40% since the 1970’s. Worldwide studies have additionally revealed that women participation within the UAE in economic activities is extremely low when compared to their counterparts in other participating countries. This is in reference to businesses that are starting and established business activities. In contrast, the men in the UAE are over twenty times more involved in young businesses that are starting up (Erogul & McCrohan, 2007). Literature Review Previous literature within the country contains limited research on the women leaders found in the UAE just like outside researches, which also do not have much on them. The research previously has done on women focuses on women leaders in the US economy. However, there is little comparison with other women managers around the globe. Therefore, there is a great need for carrying out research on the distinctive roles that women play in the economy. This will be done so as to enable conceptualization and validation of their unique roles. Some little research can however be found concerning the factors which support the leaders among women in their professions. They include parental supports especially their fathers, socialization within their families along with spousal support (Moore, 2007). Most of the previous research focuses on the support they get from their families. Little information can be found on the conditions at their places of work that facilitate the advancements in their careers. The previous research also dwells on the challenges that women encounter in advancing their leadership in business. The experiences of women leaders in the region have been documented based on their Islamic faiths. In contrast, women in countries such as France and Denmark with children aged go to work. This is enabled by the availability of pre-primary child care that is offered in schools (The Times, 1990). The current research shows there is a need to facilitate the conceptualization and qualitative validation of the differences among women and their separate experiences. The UAE is on record as being the best within the region in terms of treating her women. In addition, present research indicates that 10% of the managerial posts in the world of Arabs are usually held by their women. The changing of the traditional perceptions of a woman’s place is a slow process within the UAE (Erogul & McCrohan, 2007). Research Question • Does insufficient self confidence, family conflicts, long working and stereotyping among women within the UAE affect the participation in leadership positions in businesses? Theoretical Framework The dependent variable in the research is the participation of women in leadership positions in business within the UAE. It will be explained by the following independent variables: insufficient self confidence, family conflicts, long working hours and stereotyping. Women usually lack confidence because of their place within the society as stipulated by Islam. Their lack of self confidence is also attributable to the family conflicts that occur in their lives. Women within the region are often abused, and the law does not come to their defense. These issues create impressions that are wrong since they stipulate women are supposed to be responsible for household chores and are inferior to men. This hinders their progressive advancement in their careers. This makes them to be overlooked when being employed (Moore, 2007). The issues of long working hours for women affect them since they are supposed to handle household chores along with the activities of bearing children. This hinders their ability of working beyond the usual office working hours. Thus, they are perceived to be less concerned with their duties at work by their senior managements and are not given any significant duties. Finally, the independent issue of stereotyping also affects their progress at their work places. They happen not to be valued in their work places, which hinders their abilities of advancing their careers. All these variables will therefore be examined for the purpose of explaining what affects the women participation in leadership positions in business (McCrohan & Preiss, 2006). Hypotheses • If the women within the UAE spend more hours working in their professional jobs, they will be promoted. • If women the women encounter less stereotyping they will have more leadership opportunities. • If the women encounter fewer conflicts within their families, they will have greater chances of participating in leadership activities. • If the women have more self confidence, they will be able to lead in the future. The four independent variables are/will of great benefit in explaining the variances found in women leaders (Moore, 2007). Method Section a. Study Design In the field studies, the cross-sectional correlations data on the four independent variables along with the dependent variable will be collected. This will be gotten from women working in the country’s private and public sectors through the use of questionnaires (Moore, 2007). b. Population and Sample. The population under study comprises of women leaders in business. Ten women had already been interrogated in depth. The sample was selected through subject selection criteria’s with highest levels possible among the female executives being selected. The identification process of the subjects to be interviewed was achieved through the existing expert institutions. There were further in depth reviews and interviews on interdisciplinary literatures (McCrohan & Preiss, 2006). c. Variables and Measures Direct questioning will be used in obtain information concerning the demographic variables. This includes the women’s ages, number of hours and years one has worked for an organization and the number of children each has (McCrohan & Preiss, 2006). The extent of women participation in leadership roles will be responsible for indicating the degree to which women are participating in managerial roles within the country. The independent variable on stereotyping will all be measured using the eight-item measure proposed by Hall along with Humphreys’ in the year 1972. Its alpha measure according to Cronbach is 0.82. The other three independent variables of long working hours, insufficient confidence and family conflicts will be measured according to their responsibilities. This will be done via Sonnenfield and with McGrath’s method, which requires the respondents to show their assigned responsibility levels. Cronbach’s alpha for these three things is 0.71 for the sample (Moore, 2007). d. Data Collection Method Interviews and questionnaires will be the main methods of collecting data. Reviews of the previously done literatures will also be vital in availing the data required for this exercise (Moore, 2007). e. Data Analysis and Results The data will be analyzed using Cronbach’s alpha or reliabilities for the measures made for the samples. The frequency distributions will also be obtained for the data samples. Each and every hypothesis will then be tested with the correlation matrixes being used to establish answers to the three related hypothesis. Correlations of 0.56 & 0.59 will be used in showing positive relations with the assigned responsibilities of women in leadership positions within a business environment. On the other hand, correlations of -0.54 will be used to show negative relations to their women participation to leadership roles in business (McCrohan & Preiss, 2006). f. Discussion of Results The results obtained from the study will be used in determining the importance of the independent variables mentioned in the theoretical framework for the proposal. Laying focus on only one factor while others are ignored, the government will not be obtaining the full potential of their women. They will also not achieve their aim of promoting the participation of women in leadership positions hence the situation should be remedied. There is a great importance in assigning women leadership positions as they would be able to fully utilize their abilities while enhancing the productivities and operations of most businesses. They will also enable the CEO’s and communities to alter their perceptions on the roles of women within them (McCrohan & Preiss, 2006). g. Recommendations A system to measure individual contributions by the women should be put in place to enable employers to use this data in assigning women more responsibilities at the work places. Women should be promoted according to their work experiences and seminars should be organized for top business executives to sensitize them on the adverse effects of stereotyping. These measures will greatly help the economy of the UAE in utilizing the full potentials of their women. The economy will tend to benefit in a variety of ways (Moore, 2007). h. Conclusion. Governments and business leaders in the UAE should adjust their attitudes towards women along with their expectations at the work places. This is because the economy tends to lose a lot when their full potentials are not fully utilized. . References Erogul, M & McCrohan, D. (2007). Socio-Cultural Factors Inhibiting Female Entrepreneurship In The United Arab Emirates. Zayed University, Dubai, UAE: College Of Business Sciences. Moore, L. (2007). Voices of UAE Women Business Leaders: Research In Progress, Zayed: College of Business sciences. McCrohan, D & Preiss, K. (2006). Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment For Young Business Leaders- GEM United Arab Emirates: Entrepreneurship In The United Arab Emirates In 2006. Zayed University: College of Business Science. The Times, (1990). Reports from around the world: Europe Britain: United Kingdom. London: Hansard Society. Read More