dc.description.abstract | The survey for the study reported here was carried out between 16th July and
28th August 2001. The study sought to investigate the characteristics associated
with upward mobility of women in Kenyan organizations in the banking industry.
The population of interest in the study consisted of all women employees in the
banking industry in Nairobi. The information was collected using a drop-and-pick
later questionnaire completed by eighty five women ranging from Clerk,
supervisor, Officer, Assistant Manager and Manager, from seventeen banks
sampled from the forty eight banks operating in Nairobi.
It was found that age, marital status, educational background, organization size,
fear of success and fear of appearing incompetent influence upward mobility of
women in the banking industry.
One major issue that was found is that women in management levels in the
banks are either single or divorced. Banks may need to have work life and family
friendly policies to help women who rise up to management positions
accommodate the balance between work and family responsibilities. However,
more investigation into the cause of this scenario would be necessary.
From the foregoing, it is evident that banks in Kenya may need to seriously
address their work policies as relates to women to minimize the constraints
facing women in moving up the organizational ladder. | en |