Gender-Based Barriers to Senior Management Positions: A Case Study of Female Managers in Zain Telecommunication Company in Kampala District:

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Date
2010-10
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Publisher
Kampala International University, Colleges of humanities and social sciences
Abstract
This study examined gender-based barriers to women in senior management positions in Zain Telecommunication Company in Kampala district. Specifically, the study sought to assess the extent to which Zain Telecommunication Company had implemented the affirmative action in promoting equal employment opportunity for staff; the extent to which the barriers to women in senior management positions were gender-based and; the relationship between gender-based barriers and senior management. A case study research design was used and primary data were collected using questionnaires and interview guides. The study sample consisted of 67 respondents (8 managers in top positions, 59 middle and bottom staff) selected from Zain Telecommunication Company staff in Kampala district. Finally, data collected were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS). The results of the study revealed that affirmative action was implemented by ensuring no employee discrimination in promotions, remuneration and job benefits. Despite this, employee selection practices in Zain Telecommunication Company emphasized hiring the best-qualified individuals with no consideration of sex. This was probably because Zain Telecommunication Company associated academic qualifications with performance at work. Consequently, there was low female representation among senior managers in Zain Telecommunication Company compared to male representation. There was a negative relationship between gender-based barriers and senior management implying that gender factors were a barrier to women in senior management positions in Zain Telecommunications Company. Finally, the study recommended for mentoring of female employees to develop managerial ability, reforming of Zain recruitment policy, succession planning for women employees, training and sharing of family responsibilities between women and men and networking.
Description
A Thesis Presented to the School of Postgraduate Studies and Research Kampala International University Kampala, Uganda In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Human Resource Management.
Keywords
Gender, Senior Management, Female Managers, Kampala District:
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