Access denied? Exploring the causes of the low representation of women in senior executive positions within procurement

Recent surveys report the representation of women in senior executive positions within procurement as both very low and lower than in other professions. In this paper, the authors explored the causes of this. The authors interviewed 41 female and male procurement professionals from a range of sector...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lawrence, J. (Author), Le Mesurier, N. (Author), Lonsdale, C. (Author)
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier Ltd 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:View Fulltext in Publisher
LEADER 01738nam a2200205Ia 4500
001 10.1016-j.pursup.2018.04.002
008 220706s2018 CNT 000 0 und d
020 |a 14784092 (ISSN) 
245 1 0 |a Access denied? Exploring the causes of the low representation of women in senior executive positions within procurement 
260 0 |b Elsevier Ltd  |c 2018 
856 |z View Fulltext in Publisher  |u https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pursup.2018.04.002 
520 3 |a Recent surveys report the representation of women in senior executive positions within procurement as both very low and lower than in other professions. In this paper, the authors explored the causes of this. The authors interviewed 41 female and male procurement professionals from a range of sectors and seniority levels. Different views were encountered, but overall the findings suggested that female advancement within procurement is affected by both generic organisational and procurement-specific impediments, including inadequate work design, male-dominated cultures, negative stereotypes, high levels of travel and an aggressive ethos that characterises many procurement functions. The latter was said to be greater where procurement functions lacked ‘cultural maturity’. The findings suggested that both the procurement literature and procurement profession need to do more to address these impediments to female advancement. Ways forward are suggested. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd 
650 0 4 |a Gender inequality 
650 0 4 |a Procurement profession 
650 0 4 |a Recruitment and promotion processes 
650 0 4 |a Women 
700 1 |a Lawrence, J.  |e author 
700 1 |a Le Mesurier, N.  |e author 
700 1 |a Lonsdale, C.  |e author 
773 |t Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management