The experiences leading to resignation of female audit managers: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jurika Groenewald ◽  
Elza Odendaal

Purpose Considering the benefits that gender diversity could bring to audit firms, especially in a time when the audit profession faces criticism and the COVID-19 pandemic has widened the gender inequality gap, this study aims to explore the lived experiences of female former audit managers from a social role theory and role congruity theory perspective, to understand the factors that contributed towards their resignations. Design/methodology/approach An exploratory qualitative research approach and an interpretative phenomenological analysis design were used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with senior female audit managers who had resigned from Johannesburg Stock Exchange-accredited audit firms. Findings The female former audit managers reported their unique experiences in terms of a lack of transparent career progression discussions, audit firms being run by “old boys’ clubs” and unfair treatment linked to bias, job overload and indistinct ambitions to become audit partners. Research limitations/implications The homogeneous sample included a small number of female participants from a limited number of audit firms. Originality/value The findings could inform audit firms how to address the factors contributing to female audit managers’ resignations and to challenge stereotypes to retain more women for promotion to audit partner-level, thereby capitalising on the benefits of a diversified management structure that could lead to higher quality audits and address gender inequality.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Syeda Hina Batool ◽  
Amna Farzand Ali ◽  
Muhammad Safdar

Purpose This study aims to investigate social sciences PhD scholars’ research experiences through a qualitative lens. Researchers explored the doctoral students’ research conceptions, supervision-related expectations, reasons to join PhD, key learning areas and advantages of PhD in this study. Education sector is rigorously seeking PhD faculty and simultaneously offering a number of research degree programs and scholarships to boom the research culture. The amount of time, energy, finance and dedication involved in it urges researchers to investigate this phenomenon holistically. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative research approach, phenomenology (semi-structured interviews) is used to conduct this research, and interpretative phenomenological analysis technique is used to analyze the collected data. Findings Findings have been reported comprehensively through interpretative phenomenological analysis. Respondents had a number of expectations from supervisors and viewed this journey as challenging and at the same time beneficial for their professional and personal life. Originality/value This study is unique in nature, as it depicts research conceptions of doctoral students, benefits of PhD, challenges in pursuing PhD and supervision expectations from a developing country perspective. This study’s outcomes have impressions for policymakers, researchers and supervisors. The findings have insights for educators to produce more constructive researchers and scholars.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shikha Rana

PurposeThe present study aims to gauge the perspectives of students on the difficulties they faced during online learning during the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) through the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) technique.Design/methodology/approachThe current study employed IPA, and it was conducted among the students enrolled for professional courses in the government, private and deemed-to-be universities in Uttarakhand, India, using semi-structured interviews for the purpose of data collection.FindingsThe findings have been grouped under five parts referred to as “superordinate themes” or “barriers” which comprises learning in an online class environment, online learning in the home environment, student–teacher relationship in online learning, technical hindrances in online learning and health issues in online learning. These superordinate themes were further grouped under sub-themes.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study focused on the students of various private, public and deemed-to-be universities of the Uttarakhand region and represents the higher education sector only and did not tap the primary, secondary and vocational education. The students of academic courses or degree courses like arts, commerce, basic sciences and humanities, etc. were not included in the research study. Hence, the study lacks generalizability.Practical implicationsThe research findings of the present study have implications for higher education institutions (HEIs), teachers, students and policymakers.Originality/valueThe present study addresses the methodological gap by offering a new line of research where IPA has been used as the methodology to determine the barriers of online learning in the COVID-19 situation, and to the best of the authors’ knowledge, none of the studies have used it so far to ascertain the barriers to online learning from the student perspective.


Author(s):  
Susan Shortland ◽  
Christine Porter

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine what job-related training interventions female expatriates seek and can access in order to build necessary knowledge and skills to progress into further career-enhancing expatriate positions.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a cross-sectional qualitative research approach, drawing upon semi-structured interviews in respect of organisational training practice with 26 current female expatriates and nine human resource, international assignments and training managers in two oil and gas exploration firms.FindingsBudgets, time and travel restrictions and competitive business pressures constrain on-the-job training provision for expatriates. Assignees require specific knowledge and skills ahead of appointment to subsequent expatriate positions. HR personnel believe training provides appropriate knowledge and capability development, supporting women expatriates' career ambitions. Women assignees view training available within their current roles as insufficient or irrelevant to building human capital for future expatriate posts.Research limitations/implicationsLongitudinal research across a wider spectrum of industries is needed to help understand the effects of training interventions on women's access to future career-enhancing expatriation and senior management/leadership positions.Practical implicationsOrganisations should ensure relevant technical skills training, clear responsibility for training provision, transparent and fair training allocation, positive communication regarding human capital outcomes and an inclusive culture that promotes expatriate gender diversity.Originality/valueSet within the framework of human capital theory, this study identifies the challenges that female expatriates experience when seeking relevant job-related training to further their expatriate careers. It identifies clear mismatches between the views of HR and female assignees in relation to the value of job-related training offered and women's access to it.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Edge ◽  
Susan Wheatley

Purpose This paper aims to gain a detailed understanding of their experience of well-being from the perspective of mental health peer workers. Design/methodology/approach An interpretative phenomenological analysis design using semi-structured interviews was conducted with four peer workers. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and then analysed using thematic analysis. Findings Participants described their experience of well-being in terms of a journey over time that followed an unpredictable course. They understood their well-being in terms of their engagement in occupations. An occupational science framework was used to understand the participants’ experience of their well-being in terms of doing, being and becoming. Originality/value This paper is among the first to approach the exploration of the experience of well-being for peer workers using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis design.


2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Artur Dias ◽  
Aurora A.C. Teixeira

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the aftermath of business failure (BF) by addressing: how the individual progressed and developed new ventures, how individuals changed business behaviors and practices in light of a failure, and what was the effect of previous failure on the individual’s decisions to embark on subsequent ventures. Design/methodology/approach The authors resort to qualitative methods to understand the aftermath of BF from a retrospective point of a successful entrepreneur. Specifically, the authors undertook semi-structured interviews to six entrepreneurs, three from the north of Europe and three from the south and use interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings The authors found that previous failure impacted individuals strongly, being shaped by the individual’s experience and age, and their perception of blame for the failure. An array of moderator costs was identified, ranging from antecedents to institutions that were present in the individual’s lives. The outcomes are directly relatable to the failed experience by the individual. The authors also found that the failure had a significant effect on the individual’s career path. Originality/value While predicting the failure of healthy firms or the discovery of the main determinants that lead to such an event have received increasingly more attention in the last two decades, the focus on the consequences of BF is still lagging behind. The present study fills this gap by analyzing the aftermath of BF.


2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 203-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niamh Kennedy

Purpose – Prison violence generates much public interest with concerns for the financial costs, staff safety and public safety. The purpose of this paper is to explore the experience of riotous behaviour from the perspective of prisoners in a maximum secure adult prison. It also seeks gather information and to generate discussion on areas for future research. Design/methodology/approach – A purposive sampling method and in-depth semi-structured interviews were carried out. Interpretative phenomenological analysis identified super ordinate themes and related sub-themes within the participants’ narratives. Emergent themes were then considered in relation to the theories and concepts that underpinned and connected them. Findings – Super ordinate themes emerged centred around the subject of social processing and relationships. Prisoners emphasised the role of prisoner-staff relationships in feeling valued as part of the social structure and considered riotous behaviour the best method of communication at that time. Social comparison highlighted the value they placed in being part of the prisoner culture and the nostalgic nature of the riotous behaviour for them. It lends support to earlier theory on prison adjustment and social psychological explanations for rioting. Research limitations/implications – It is not assumed that the findings of this study can be universally applied given the sample size and the idiosyncratic nature of participants’ experiences. This research may provide greater insight into the motivational factors related to individuals involved in riotous behaviour. With such insight prison staff may be more able to consider whether prisoners’ needs are being sufficiently met to help prevent such behaviour in the future. Practical implications – This research may help inform training on the identification and management of potential riots. With insight into the individual motivational factors prison staff may be more able to consider whether prisoners’ needs are being sufficiently met to help prevent such behaviour in the future. Originality/value – This paper reports on the prisoners’ individual experience of being involved in riotous behaviour. Due to the paucity of literature on this behaviour, this exploratory study is intended to add to existing knowledge.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 104-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isaac Tuffour ◽  
Alan Simpson ◽  
Lisa Reynolds

Background Research conceptualising recovery is predominantly Eurocentric. This paper develops the conceptualisation of recovery by Black African service users. Aims Our aim was to explore Black African service users’ experiences of recovery from mental illness and to understand how they conceptualise recovery. Methods Using a qualitative research approach and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 Black African service users recovering from mental illness in England. Results Participants conceptualised recovery as a pragmatic and subjective concept distributed across a continuum of clinical, functional and spiritual dimensions, resilience, identity and their social and cultural backgrounds. Conclusions It seems critical for all stakeholders to ensure that these components are embedded in recovery-oriented services for Black African service users.


Author(s):  
Laura Jacobs ◽  
Richard Shuker

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the treatment experiences of adult male perpetrators of filicide within prison therapeutic communities (TCs). Design/methodology/approach Participants took part in semi-structured interviews in order to capture their treatment experiences. The data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings Five superordinate themes (therapeutic process; acceptance; insight; relationships; and barriers) and ten subordinate themes were identified. All themes were pertinent to understanding the participants’ experiences of TC treatment. The discussion provides reflections about the findings, contrasts them to psychological literature, along with suggestions for clinical practice and future research. Originality/value This research addressed a dearth of published literature within the area of male filicide and available treatment interventions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 345-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonor Rodriguez ◽  
Ann Marie Groarke ◽  
Pat Dolan ◽  
Padraig MacNeela

Purpose As an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the purpose of this paper is to provide an in-depth understanding of adolescent experiences of maternal cancer to identify the individual and contextual factors that shape adolescent experiences and evaluates the potential applicability of the Family Ecology Model to the illness context. Design/methodology/approach This analysis is focussed on three female adolescents who completed semi-structured interviews, which were subjected to IPA. Maternal illness is a challenge for adolescents, which can be improved or undermined by their contexts. The analysis yielded three sub-themes: family structure, social supports, experiencing maternal cancer at a time of transition and the lasting impact of cancer. Findings This study found that adolescent experiences of maternal cancer depend on their contexts from an ecological perspective the type and quality of adolescent interactions determine coping and adjustment. Maternal cancer can be difficult as adolescents are already facing specific developmental challenges. Future research can benefit from adopting an ecological perspective to further understand adolescent experiences to support adolescent that may be more vulnerable and benefit from additional supports. This is not a generalisable piece of research but it provides a very deep and detailed understanding of the impact of maternal cancer on adolescents’ developmental course and determines how the complexity of their contexts can serve as a risk or a protective factor at this challenging time. Originality/value This paper contributes to the body of research by providing a comprehensive understanding of adolescents facing maternal cancer. The Ecological Model supports the findings of this research and proves to be a good model to understand the complex interplay between adolescents and their environments when facing a difficult challenge like maternal cancer is.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aisling O’Meara ◽  
Meinir Edwards ◽  
Jason Davies

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore women’s experiences of criminal justice systems to inform the development of guidance on working with women. Design/methodology/approach A two-part, independent samples and qualitative study using semi-structured interviews incorporating both interpretive phenomenological analysis and thematic analysis was conducted. In Study 1, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six women on probation in the community and data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Interviews in Study 2 were conducted with seven women in custody with data analysed using inductive-deductive thematic analysis. The applicability and expansion of Study 1 themes was then explored. Findings Seven emergent themes indicated relational approaches to offender management may improve experiences of judicial systems for female offenders and for their probation officers. This approach may help prevent common systemic issues from perpetuating negative interactions between these groups. Specific suggestions for developing relational security and consistency of care within these relationships are provided. Practical implications Taking a relational approach to female offender management may help remedy some of the systemic difficulties faced by female offenders and their probation officers. Originality/value By focussing on the experiences of women screened in to the offender personality disorder pathway this study provides insight as to how this service can assist in the development of relational security between probation staff and their clients.


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