Leadership in construction. A case study with a gender perspective

Abstract

The existence of women to lead organizations in the construction industry, and their minimal presence in the management environment, justifies the analysis of possible barriers to their access and/or promotion. A qualitative methodology was chosen for this analysis, undertaking in-depth interviews with male and female managers in construction with the capacity to define the strategic lines of their organizations. The results offer information on the relevance of the different forms of access and promotion, and the corporate practices and culture with regard to gender related factors, affecting the recruiters' attitude to male and female candidates. The analysis of the results confirms that the male domination of the sector, the need of a guarantee taking precedence over competencies and abilities when taking up a management position, and the time management model of the organizations, are variables that prevent the promotion of women under effective equality.