Pyram, S C (2023) An exploratory study of women's advancement in the construction industry. EdD thesis, University of Southern California, USA.
Abstract
This qualitative study aimed to explore and understand the knowledge, motivation, and organizational influences that support women’s advancement in the construction industry. The study used the conceptual framework of gap analysis developed by Clark and Estes. This study was important because women represent more than half of the population in the United States yet make up a small percentage of the industry’s workforce. Understanding the influences contributing to this phenomenon of the low number of women achieving success in technical positions in this industry can help create an environment conducive to increasing women’s leadership. It is estimated that 50% of the current construction workforce will be retiring in the near future, so the industry must create an environment that recruits, retains, and develops women as an integral part of the workforce. For the industry, women are an untapped resource for addressing the upcoming workforce shortage. The study revealed three key findings. First, the industry has not fully embraced a DE&I work environment. Second, women’s confidence in their abilities shapes their success, and third, women’s success in the industry requires effective and intentional mentorship.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Combs, W |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | motivation; population; workforce; leadership; United States; gap analysis; women |
| Index terms: | work environment, women, construction industry, gap analysis, qualitative study, population, conceptual framework, United States, motivation, exploratory study |
| Subjects: | management, performance measurement, sociology, industry analysis, research design and methodology, theoretical framing, research methods, Geography, demography, psychology |
| Topics: | Geographical Context, Urban Studies, Human Resources, Organizational Design, Research Practice |
| 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