Identifying the factors that influence the advancement of women into managerial positions at a steel manufacturing company

Abstract

This study aimed at identifying the factors that influence the advancement of women into managerial positions at a steel manufacturing company based in Gauteng. The objectives included analysing the gender-balanced leadership in organisations, the advantages and disadvantages of having women in leadership positions, the current efforts put in place to encourage the appointments and retentions, and to ascertain the necessary steps put in place to ensure that the progress for women to occupy the leadership roles are achieved. A literature review was compiled to assess the progress made to advance women into leadership positions in various organisations. The literature was structured in three main categories: societal factors, individual factors, and organizational factors. A quantitative study was conducted using a self-compiled questionnaire by the researcher. A total number of 134 personnel who responded were to the questionnaire were from the steel manufacturing company based in Gauteng participated in this study. Google forms were used to distribute the questionnaire to the participants. The responses were anonymously captured to protect the rights of all respondents. The collected data were evaluated for reliability and validity before the analysis. The statistical analysis was conducted using the SPSS software. The analysis included demographic data, descriptive analysis, statistical factor analysis, effects of the biographical data, and the relationships of the various sections stipulated in the questionnaire. The conclusion assessed if the assumptions made, based on the population, were accurate, and the results matched the premises, so the study was valid. The study made practical recommendations on promoting strategies that could enhance the advancement of women into leadership roles in South African steel manufacturing companies.