INVESTIGATING THE GLASS CEILING PHENOMENON - AN EMPIRICAL-STUDY OF ACTUAL PROMOTIONS TO TOP MANAGEMENT

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: POWELL, GN; BUTTERFIELD, DA
• 署名单位: University of Massachusetts System; University of Massachusetts Amherst
• 刊物名称: ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0001-4273
• DOI: 10.5465/256770
• 发表日期: 1994
• 页码: 68-86
• 关键词: SELECTION DECISION-MODELS; MANAGERIAL POSITIONS; SUBORDINATE DYADS; sex; ORGANIZATION; Similarity; demography; turnover; female; women

摘要

Although a ''glass ceiling'' is said to keep women from the top management levels of organizations, no research has investigated actual decisions about promotions to such positions. This study examined promotion decisions for U.S. federal government Senior Executive Service positions in a cabinet-level department. Contrary to hypotheses, the job-irrelevant variable of gender worked to women's advantage, both directly and indirectly, through job relevant variables. However, an applicant's employment in the hiring department had the greatest effect on promotion decisions.