Investigation into the adaptive behaviour of women in senior management and boards in the UK: ‘cause’ and ‘effect’

Abstract

This study investigates the adaptive behavior of women in senior management and boards in the United Kingdom. The research addresses two questions firstly focusing on identifying the factors influencing the adapting behavior exhibited by women in senior management and secondly seeking to establish links between this behavior and the slow advancement of women into senior management. Although Initial findings from the pilot study had highlighted influences impacting on women’s propensity for adaptive behavior, four new factors were further identified in the main study. These new factors influencing the adaptive behaviour of women in senior management are (i) the need to conform to the status quo within their work environment, (ii) an association of certain behaviors with success, (iii) the need to adapt behavior for career progression, and (iv) the influences on personality leading to behavior. Findings led to the development of a theoretical framework that provides evidence to the existence of a relationship between the adaptive behavior of women in senior management and the slow advancement of women into senior roles. The theoretical framework also identifies two pivotal points where in a vicious cycle the adaptive behavior negatively impacts on the rate of women advancing into senior management, and where in a virtuous cycle the behaviour of women in senior management can produce a positive impact on woman career advancement. This study utilizes a qualitative approach of inquiry with an interpretative methodology, producing findings from the analysis of data generated from 33 interviews. Results of this study provides new insights into the area of research on women in management and reveals the effects of behavior exhibited and consequences of actions taken by women in senior management on the rate of advancement of aspiring women into senior management roles, contributing to the representation of women in senior management.