Agyekum, K; Amos-Abanyie, S; Kumah, V M A; Kukah, A S K and Salgin, B (2024) Obstacles to the career progression of professional female project managers (pfpms) in the Ghanaian construction industry. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 31(1), pp. 200-226. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: There are significantly fewer women than men in managerial positions, mainly project management. This problem is noticeable in the construction and engineering sectors, traditionally male-dominated industries with leadership much dependent on masculine qualities. This study examines the obstacles to the career progression of professional female project managers (PFPMs) in the Ghanaian construction industry. Design/methodology/approach: Twenty potential obstacles to women's career progression in the construction industry were identified from a comprehensive review of the literature. A questionnaire was prepared and administered among eighty project managers who work in large construction firms in Ghana. Data obtained were analysed using one sample t-test, Kendall's concordance test, Chi-square test and exploratory factor analysis. Findings: The findings suggest the significance of all the twenty factors as potential obstacles to the career progression of PFPMs. The exploratory factor analysis identified five underlying grouped obstacles: “leadership and human capital related issues”, “issues related to discrimination of all forms”, “career aspiration and planning issues”, “female related role conflicts”, and “recruitment and selection issues”. Research limitations/implications: The subjective nature of the views of the respondents could influence the evaluation of the obstacles. With this study only exploring the dimensions underlying the significant obstacles, future studies could examine the interrelationships between the various obstacles and move on to determine their impacts on the career progression of professional female PMs as well. Practical implications: Having an in-depth understanding of these obstacles, stakeholders and other industry practitioners in Ghana could make informed decisions on measures to put in place to address some of these critical issues to raise the standard of professional female PMs in the construction industry. Policymakers and gender advocates in Ghana could also take up some of the critical obstacles identified and provide suitable strategies to educate and create the needed awareness of the industry on those obstacles. Practically, the findings from this study can be valuable for informing decision-making at different management levels in the construction industry. Originality/value: With country-specific (Ghana) obstacles identified, the findings significantly contribute to the literature on the career advancement of females in the construction sector.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | career progression; construction; construction projects; females; Ghana; project management careers; project managers |
| Index terms: | Ghana, human capital, project manager, critical issue, future study, project management, recruitment, construction industry, dimension, women, construction firm, strategy, exploratory factor analysis, role conflict, discrimination, construction sector, practitioner, questionnaire, career, methodology, decision-making, construction project |
| Subjects: | health monitoring assessment and metrics, research design and methodology, organization, profession, risk assessment, data collection methods, practitioner, sociology, decision analysis, statistical analysis, industry analysis, professional ethics, economics, research methods, management, project management theory and practice, professional development, Geography, production management |
| Topics: | Risk Management, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Project Management, Geographical Context, Information Management, Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Organizational Design, Human Resources, Legal Issues |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here