Electronic Theses and Dissertations (Masters/MBA)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10539/37942
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Item Leadership and gender in a financial institution in South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Bhana, Meera; Matshabaphala, ManamelaFor many years, the comprehension of leadership has been a crucial aspect in organisations and continues to be a pressing concern for businesses. Despite the efforts made by organisations to develop leaders, leadership has often been characterised by the failure to achieve desired outcomes. As such, there is a requirement to understand leadership from a gender perspective. This study is aimed at investigating the experiences of women in leadership. The focus is on comprehending the concept of leadership and how women have progressed in financial institutions in South Africa. A qualitative research design was employed to gain an in-depth understanding of women in leadership and their experiences as women in a male-dominated corporate environment. The data collection method involved semi-structured interviews with eight female participants and four male participants, in order to gather their perspectives. The findings indicated that the participants did face challenges in obtaining leadership roles and found it difficult to break the glass ceiling. However, there was a consensus that the older generation believed that women are only capable of being housewives and prioritising family responsibilities due to historical legacies and social norms. In contrast, the younger generation found it easier to assume leadership roles with the support of their organisation and male colleagues. The study revealed three main themes that emerged, namely, Leadership, Gender, and Diversity. These themes were further broken down into sub-themes. Although some of the participants exhibited a positive outlook based on the progress made by women in recent years, many still believe that the older generation needs to shift iv their mindset and embrace change. As more women are being recognised in leadership roles, it is recommended that women should also assert themselves, be empowered and encouraged to face challenges and confidently assume leadership positions.Item Factors contributing to the success of female leaders in South African Independent Power Producers(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Madali, Lusani JacqueelineGlobally, there is a transition towards low-carbon energy sources, and countries, including South Africa, are including renewable energy power generation into their energy mix to reduce carbon emissions and meet gender mainstreaming and equality objectives. The energy sector remains one of the most minor gender-diverse sectors in the economy. Studies have indicated that there are barriers and enabling factors that contribute to the success of female leaders. The study aimed to explore and analyse factors (barriers and enablers) contributing to the success of female leaders in South African Independent Power Producers. The research adopted a generic qualitative approach using a non-random sampling technique (self-selection) followed by thematic data analysis and interpretation to derive the narrative towards the study objectives. Data was collected from nine female participants from leading renewable energy IPP companies through semi-structured interview questions undertaken via an online platform. The study's key finding was how the feminist theory came into play when the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the social norms, which shifted stereotype, patriarchal and discrimination views about females. In summary, the study also indicated that contributing factors could be both negative extrinsic (generational disadvantages, unconscious bias, discrimination, patriarchy, and stereotype) and intrinsic (lack of self-confidence) and positive extrinsic (support system, mentoring and training) and intrinsic (self-confidence), which can be a barrier or an enabler towards females attaining leadership roles within the renewable energy IPPs