A critical mass of women: A study of senior management at five Australian universities

Abstract

Purpose

Reviews a case study of five Australian universities with over 30 percent of their senior management jobs filled by women. Highlights how such a culture can be achieved and maintained, and the effect of increased women on management culture.

Design/methodology/approach

This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments.

Findings

Particularly in terms of corporate culture, it is beneficial to have women among the senior executives of an organization. At least 35 percent of the team should be made up of women, in order to have the effect of a critical mass. The ratio of men to women at the top in Australian universities is getting fairer, but there is still a way to go.

Practical implications

Though times are slowly changing, on average the number of women occupying senior positions in the workplace is still discouragingly low. Of the women who have managed to make it to the top, the vast majority are still to be found in the traditional “pink ghettos” such as Human Resources, and more often than not their job title is Assistant Director rather than Director. Yet business writers continue to argue the case for having more women in high places, and new legislation increasingly enforces hiring without regard for gender. But is this fight simply about striving for gender equality or is there more involved?

Originality/value

Analyses why women should be in senior roles, how to attract them, and what is involved in creating the right environment for them to flourish. Argues strongly about the power of numbers to start a snowball effect, which could be an interesting learning point for any type of large organization.

Citation

(2007), "A critical mass of women: A study of senior management at five Australian universities", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 15 No. 3, pp. 24-25. https://doi.org/10.1108/09670730710743970