Female underrepresentation in project-based organizations exposes organizational isomorphism

• Pages: 799-812
• Date: 20 November 2018
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-03-2017-0061
• Published date: 20 November 2018
• Author: Marzena Baker,Erica French
• Subject Matter: HR & organizational behaviour,Employment law,Diversity, equality, inclusion

Female underrepresentation

in project-based

organizations exposes

organizational isomorphism

Marzena Baker and Erica French

Department of Management, Queensland University of Technology,

Brisbane, Australia

Abstract

Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to investigate the structural career barriers in project-based

construction and property development organizations in Australia, and explore how these affect women and

their project careers. It applies the insights of the institutional theory to explain how the process of normative

isomorphism continues to reproduce female underrepresentation in those organizations.

Design/methodology/approach –Based on an exploratory interpretive approach, this study consisted of

16 in-depth interviews with female project managers from the Australian construction and property industry.

Findings –The research shows that organizational practices may contribute to the ongoing female

underrepresentation in the Australian construction and property development industries. The structural

career barriers unique to project organizations include work practice, presenteeism, reliance on career

self-management and the “filtering of personnel”in recruitment and promotion practices.

Research limitations/implications –The results support the institutional theory as an explanation for

the factors that influence women’s’perceptions of their project management careers. Addressing inequity

between men and women is perceived as an organizational choice.

Practical implications –To achieve a substantive change in the numbers of women in project

management, organizational leaders in male dominated industries such as construction and property

development are encouraged to think strategically about how to overcome the access and opportunity that

affect women’s career progress.

Originality/value –Drawing on the institutional theory, this study explores how the process of

normative isomorphism may reproduce female underrepresentation and gender segregation in traditional

project-based organizations.

Keywords Gender, Institutional theory, Isomorphism, Female underrepresentation, Project-based organizations,

Structural career barriers

Paper type Research paper

Introduction

Over the past decade, project-based organizations have emerged as ideal organizational

structures to cope with the fast-changing business and economic environment, driven by

the increasing competition of globalized markets and rapidly changing technologies

(Hatcher et al., 2013; Hobday, 2000). As project management continues to expand,

it is important to understand how this different form of organizing affects women’s

career progression and how it may be contributing to female underrepresentation in

project-based organizations (Cicmil and Hodgson, 2006; Crawford et al., 2015). This

study investigates women’s career progression experiences in construction and property

development organizations. The Australian construction and property industry

represents the third largest contributor to the country’s economy; the third highest

employing sector of the economy at 10 percent and the fourth fastest growing industry

within this econom y at an average annual growth of 4.8 perce nt for the past two decades

(The Australian Trade Commission, WGEA, 2015).

These project-based industries are numerically dominated by men and are particularly

characterized by a high degree of vertical role segregation. Women comprise only

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

An International Journal

Vol. 37 No. 8, 2018

pp. 799-812

© Emerald PublishingLimited

2040-7149

DOI 10.1108/EDI-03-2017-0061

Received 19 March 2017

Revised 23 September 2017

26 October 2017

19 December 2017

18 March 2018

Accepted 20 April 2018

The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:

www.emeraldinsight.com/2040-7149.htm

799

Organizational

isomorphism