School for Organisation and Resource Management

Permanent URI for this community

https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/4407

Browse

Browsing School for Organisation and Resource Management by Author "Dalton, Wayne"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Enablers and constraints women encounter in advancing to senior managerial positions: Case of South African Military Health Institutions in the Western Cape
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-12) Cox, Rashaad; Dalton, Wayne; Khoza, Lindiwe Mhakamuni; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Military Science. School for Defence Organisation and Resource Management.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Women to top management positions in the private and public sector in Africa has made good progress. South Africa, in particular, has made notable progress in narrowing the gender gap since 2004. The percentage of women MP’s has increased from 33% in 2004 to 46% in 2019. However, women appear to remain underrepresented on senior management in one of South Africa’s historically male dominated departments, the DOD. The purpose of this case study was to determine the enablers and constraints that women encounter in advancing to managerial positions in Military Health Institutions in the Western Cape. The objectives of the study were to determine the progress made in advancement of women to senior managerial positions in accordance with legislative prescripts; the factors that women experience as enablers in advancing to senior managerial positions; the factors that women experience as constraints in advancing to senior managerial positions; the implications for advancement of women to senior managerial positions for achieving of the strategic objectives of Military Health Institutions. A mixed-method single case study approach was employed to answer the main research question: “What are the enabling and constraining factors women encounter in advancing to senior managerial positions” Qualitative data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews, open-ended questionnaires and through SANDF document analysis. Biographic and background information collected through close-ended questions in the research questionnaire and interviews, personnel post profiles, and Unit post structures sourced from military Units targeted in this study have all been reported as frequency statistics. These sources have been statistically analysed as they emerged from literature as either enablers of, or constraints to women progressing to senior managerial positions. The total population for this study consisted of 113 women officers. But due to Covid-19 regulations, Units worked staggered hours, thus the researcher only managed to reach 67 members, 36 of whom completed the questionnaires. Interviews were conducted with OCs, HODs of Human Resource departments, and RSMs from Military Health Institutions in the Western Cape. The results from different sources were integrated and analysed according to the Micro-individual, Meso-organisational, and Macro socio-cultural levels of the multi-relational framework. It emerged from the results that women are relatively well represented in OIC and HOD positions, but no women to date had held an Officer Commanding (OC) post. Gender equality policies are in place, and it is expected of all organisations and businesses to comply, including the SANDF. Thus, it can be argued that on meso level, the organisation neglected to comply with the legislative prescripts introduced on macro level. Compliance with legislative prescripts will ensure gender parity and diversity on all senior managerial levels, thus giving women the opportunity to contribute to the strategic objectives of the country, the DOD, and the SANDF. One limitation of the study is the low response rate by participants in the study, which may be attributed to participants’ busy schedule as they were compelled to provide essential services during national Covid-19 pandemic measures. It is recommended that future studies should include one of South Africa’s major Military Health Institutes, 2 Military Hospital in Wynberg, Cape Town, and all women officers in all areas of specialisations, not only the departments identified for this study. Future research should also focus on whether the DOD and SANDF comply with legislative prescripts in terms of gender equality on all managerial levels.