Women as leaders: a systematic review of glass ceiling and organisational development

Abstract

Glass ceiling refers to an invisible barrier that blocks women from progressing up the corporate hierarchy. Previous studies have frequently shown how women are invariably failing to achieve high ranks due to the corporate cultures and inadequate support structures that impede their career advancement. However, the trend seems to have changed over time. Organisations that emphasise on the developmental aspects of female employees, recognise their proficiencies and provide an inclusive environment, eventually prove to be more successful. Since development is not a one-day process, this paper undertakes a systematic review of literature to examine the challenges affecting women in acquiring leadership roles and understanding its impact on organisational development. It is based on secondary data drawn from research papers over the past three decades. The analysis of this paper focuses on four major factors: Socio-cultural, Organisational, Governmental and Psychological barriers that are associated with the glass ceiling effect.