Influence of the glass cliff phenomenon on the effectiveness of women senior managers in organisational development in Kenya

Abstract

This study sought to understand the influence of the glass cliff phenomenon on the effectiveness of women senior managers in organisational development. Specifically, the study examined the influence of promotion processes on the effectiveness of women senior managers. Using a descriptive survey design, registered and active non-governmental organisations in Nakuru County participated in the study focusing on women senior managers. A self-administered questionnaire, both open and closed-ended questions, was used in collecting data. Quantitative data collected was sorted and cleaned, and the analysis was undertaken through the use of the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software. Pearson correlation and Chi-square tests were used to determine the influence between the study variables. On the other hand, thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. The study established that there is a positive relationship exists between promotion processes and the effectiveness of women senior managers (r=0.619; p<0.05). Furthermore, the chi-square results indicated a statistically significant association between promotion processes and the effectiveness of women senior managers (?²=36.905; p=0.000). The study concludes that women are promoted into senior management positions where the organisation is failing. Women are not promoted into risky positions as compared to their male counterparts, but contextual gender factors such as patriarchy contribute to the women feeling that their positions are risky. This study recommends that a comparative study should be conducted to compare the influence of the glass cliff phenomenon on the effectiveness of women senior managers in developed and developing countries.