Women and the glass ceiling: the role of professionalization in family SMEs

Author(s):  
Luca Gnan ◽  
Lucrezia Songini
Keyword(s):  

Malaysia as a country has grown quite a lot over the last two decades despite the political condition often troubled with allegations of corruption but speaking economically and in social context, it can be claimed that as a country, Malaysia has fared in a decent manner and it has been able to maintain stability which has helped to elevate the progress of the nation. The social structure of Malaysia is in such a manner where there is a broad distribution of multiple ethnicities and cultures that it has been able to maintain but in accordance to the latest Gender Development Index, as till 2017, Malaysia ranks 57th among the 189 countries (http://hdr.undp.org/en/composite/GDI) and is categorized as a country with “VERY HIGH HUMAN DEVELOPMENT”. The paper makes an attempt to analyze and evaluate the various factors that have direct and indirect implications in acting as factors to influence the presence of “glass ceiling” in the higher education sector with focus on women administration. The objective is to explore and identify the different reasons behind women having to struggle in a country that has such a commendable mark in the HDI where the ones leading are from generally characterized first world countries. The discussion would highlight ways as suggested and put forth by the respondents who have been exposed to “glass ceiling” in various aspects of their career from the different sources and their opinion as to how they were able to overcome and how the upcoming young generation, the women who are aspiring to join the workforce in the coming future can prepare themselves in a manner that would assist them to prepare themselves in ways that the effects and impacts of “glass ceiling” can be reduced and tackled. The role of the components from the society to have an active role in making the effects to be reduced is extremely crucial and has to be dealt with in a manner that can serve the society in the long run.


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 69-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sami Basly

AbstractDoes the family involvement affect exports in the family firm? The literature seems to support this view even if the direction and magnitude of this impact remains controversial. Drawing on the perspectives of agency [Chrisman et al. 2004; Schulze et al. 2001] and stewardship as applied to family firms [Davis, Schoorman and Donaldson 1997] and also on socio-emotional wealth perspective [Gómez-Mejía et al. 2007], this study seeks to contribute to this debate by studying the influence of family involvement on the SME exports intensity. To reconcile the divergent views, our research attempts to assess the role of the manager’s international orientation as a variable moderating the relationship between family involvement and exports in SMEs. Based on a hypothetical-deductive approach, the study uses a sample data of 125 family SMEs obtained through a questionnaire. The results show that even if the positive influence of the manager’s international orientation is corroborated, its moderating role seems to be limited to only one facet of the construct of family involvement i.e. involvement in management. Moreover, owning-family involvement in management seems to negatively influence exports while some results argue for a positive effect of the family involvement in ownership on exports.


2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 95-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uzell Freeman-Williams ◽  
Glendon Williams ◽  
Boris Djokic ◽  
Joan Cezair

Author(s):  
Unai Arzubiaga ◽  
Alfredo De Massis ◽  
Amaia Maseda ◽  
Txomin Iturralde

AbstractThis study investigates whether a projected family firm image can affect access to financial resources, which is key to providing broader strategic options and meeting short-term financial needs, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Building on the signaling literature, we consider the family SME leaders’ perspective and conceptually and empirically examine whether they believe a projected family firm image acts as a credible signal to the lender. We also examine additional boundary conditions influencing the family SME’s projected image–access to financial resources relationship, by specifically investigating whether firm age and size alter the degree of the signaling effect. Our unique data on 289 Spanish family SMEs reveal that projected family firm image can act as an attractive signal to lenders, leading to better access to financial resources for SMEs. Furthermore, firm size reinforces the role of the projected family firm image as a positive signal. These findings address an important practical issue in terms of family firm stakeholder perceptions, offering contributions to the corporate branding, family business, and financing literature.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (14) ◽  
pp. 3805 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Ruiz-Palomo ◽  
Julio Diéguez-Soto ◽  
Antonio Duréndez ◽  
José António C. Santos

The aim of this research is to analyze the mediating role of the use of management control systems (MCS) and the achievement of technological innovation (TI) in the relationship between family management and firm performance in family small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A questionnaire was conducted by 617 managers of family SMEs in Spain, and our model was tested using partial least squares. Our findings show that both MCS and TI play crucial mediating roles in the understanding of the relationship between family management and firm performance. As a result, family-managed firms that utilize MCS and produce TI are much more likely to generate better performance. These results encourage family managers to use formal MCS because in that way they will contribute to obtaining better firm performance, directly and indirectly through TI. We focus on private family SMEs, because these specific firms contribute significantly to the economies worldwide. This paper contributes to resolve the controversy regarding the relationship between family management and firm performance introducing MCS and TI as mediating factors.


Author(s):  
Dhammika Jayawardena

Systemic manifestations of women's subordination, such as the glass ceiling, are still a reality in organisations. Yet, the glass ceiling effect in the Global South is often conceptualised vis-à-vis (white) women's experience in ‘gendered organisations' and women's domestic role in the Southern societies. In this context, this chapter, based on a fieldwork research conducted in Sri Lanka's apparel industry, critically examines the glass ceiling effect of glass ceiling on women's career advancement in the Global South. Alongside the notion of ‘universal' patriarchy, it problematises the ‘universal' structure of the glass ceiling. And it shows that (un)doing factory women's collective identity—as lamai (little ones)—and the glass ceiling intermingle in the process of women's subordination in the apparel industry. The chapter concludes that, in the apparel industry, the role of managerial women —as well as of men in (un)doing factory women's collective identity—is crucial in keeping the glass ceiling in place.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (10) ◽  
pp. 34-40
Author(s):  
Padma Kapoor ◽  
Vikramjit Kaur

"Glass Ceiling" means an invisible or hidden barrier that describes the gender barriers, as it stands for gender, race, and class that obstruct women's opportunities for advancement at all levels of organizational hierarchy. It is not only a corporate term that is being generally used in the workplace for women but it is an unfortunate incident that can be happened at all levels, which lies in the mindset of people and society. The rise in female education and the feminization of higher professions - liberal and salaried have not removed the obstacles that women face in reaching the top levels of power, prestige, and remuneration. Women are facing various issues like gender inequality, discrimination, sexual abuse, and mental harassment at work or in society. So improving the condition of women, many organizations, Governments are coming forward and making some policies and laws for their betterment. This paper is an attempt to analyze the role of the Indian government towards the upliftment of women in their personal as well as professional growth.


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