Women in management: the case of MBA graduates

Abstract

The research for this paper focused on the impact which an MBA has on the careers of women in management and compared the career progression of male and female MBA graduates. The research was carried out among graduates who had obtained an MBA from the University of Ulster between 1992 and 1996. The study found that the management careers of men and women did differ significantly in a number of respects and that there were differences between male and female graduates in their perceptions of how the MBA has affected their careers. It also found that women, in particular, experienced barriers to their careers which mediated the effects of obtaining a higher level qualification. The paper discusses how a more “level playing field” might be created and pressures reduced for both men and women in management careers.

Citation

Ackah Norma Heaton, C. and McWhinney, G. (1999), "Women in management: the case of MBA graduates", Women in Management Review, Vol. 14 No. 4, pp. 136-145. https://doi.org/10.1108/09649429910274815