Case study 4 Why no women managers Pavla Fuxová Hana Gablová Kristýna Hanžlová Jana Kudělová Jitka Němečková Faculty of Economics and Management MSc – 1st year

Case study problem „The mystery of the disappearing female hotel graduate“ Hotel industry Lack of female in the hotel management BUT more women managers than other industries More female graduates from the Hotel and Catering Management courses (75%) 3:1 women to men Possible explanation The aspiration of female empl. in the hotel industry The cultural milieu of the hotel industry The process of management development

The aspiration of female employees in the hotel industry Passivity of women Lack of confidence Women choose jobs at a sub-managerial level Definition of career plan

The cultural milieu of the hotel industry History of hotel industry Women constantly connected with care and attention Women has always played decorative and supportive role Important departments (front office, restaurant) hold only by men Relationship within hotels Triadic relationship : staff – customers – management Women excluded from valued department Women working in low skilled activities Personal service obtained by men Different training opportunities

The process of management development Nature of hotel management „mine host“ role,“continual presence“ and multi-skilled character-“ad hoc“ management style Immediate problem solving at an operational level Definition of hotel management Women do not fit the “personality“ concept Becoming a hotel manager College and trainee as an assistant manager Attention to networks, encouragement Sponsors – disadvatage for women Practical skills valued highly than level of education Women miss practical skills?

Definiton of glass ceiling a ceiling based on attitudinal or organizational bias in the work force that prevents minorities and women from advancing to leadership positions at Hewlett-Packard in 1979, Katherine Lawrence and Marianne Schreiber, described how while on the surface there seemed to be a clear path of promotion, but, in actuality, women seemed to hit a point where they seemed unable to progress beyond. an article by Carol Hymowitz and Timothy Schellhardt in the March 24, 1986 edition of the Wall Street Journal

Why women are NOT managers? Historical background Supportive and decorative role, stereotypes Men as a money maker vs. women as housekeeper Physical appearance Height, physical constitution, attractiveness Organizational culture Importance of networks and men’s fellowship Attitude to become a manager Passive approach? Underestimating of knowledge and skills Ambitions Desire to build vs. Desire to win

Women vs. Men Skills and abilities to carry out the management work team players (encourage openness and are more accessible) democratic reward-oriented respond more quickly to calls for assistance better at managing diversity identify problems more quickly and more accurately better at defining job expectations and providing feedback task-oriented (faster decision making) autocratic punishment-oriented command-and-control (tend to earn respect more easily) not acting emotionally work is at the first place tend to be more confident

Breaking the glass ceiling EU countries Parliaments Spain and Norway – half and half EU Parliament 30% of women Czech TOP women managers Magdalena Souček (Ernst & Young) Klára Starková (PPF) Jana Belyušová (Nike, European Central) http://www.zenyamedia.cz/clanky/zeny-a-stereotypy/25-nejvyznamnejsich-zen-ceskeho-byznysu_-aneb-take-u-nas-se-zenam-dari

Suggested Solutions Overcome prejudices Understanding what social conditioning means Pass communication gaps (“Subtle bridge builders”) different communication based on social conditioning (not malice intentions) Quotas DO NOT “act like men”! BE YOUR SELF

Conclusions Situation is getting better with the new generation of managers (29 percent in 1990 to 36.4 percent in 2002) Women should put their uniquely feminine cultural conditioning to work and do their part to bridge the gender communication divide Being equal does not mean being the same (Joanna L. Krotz)

Resources http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=glass+ceiling&sub=Search+WordNet&o2=&o0=1&o7=&o5=&o1=1&o6=&o4=&o3=&h http://www.coaching-for-new-women-managers.com/business-women.html http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/resources/management/leadership-training/do-women-make-better-managers.aspx#Dowomenmakebettermanagers http://www.eeoc.gov/stats/reports/glassceiling/index.html http://www.zenyamedia.cz/clanky/zeny-a-stereotypy/25-nejvyznamnejsich-zen-ceskeho-byznysu_-aneb-take-u-nas-se-zenam-dari

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!