Managers as change agents: the glass ceiling in British business

Maya De Ruiter

Master's thesis

Abstract:

The glass ceiling continues to negatively impact minorities in business in the UK, 40 years after the term was coined. It is fair and there is value in working towards eliminating the impact the glass ceiling continues to have. Managers are identified as viable candidates to act as change agents regarding the change surrounding the elimination of the glass ceiling. Therefore, this research investigates how managers, as change agents, can aid the elimination of the glass ceiling in British business. This investigation is done through a thorough review of literature, followed by exploratory, ethnographically inclined collection of expert perspectives on the glass ceiling, change agents, managers, and the combination of those concepts to eliminate the glass ceiling. The result was a conceptual model of how managers could employ certain practices and change management strategies to help eliminate the glass ceiling at their company.

Abstract:

The glass ceiling continues to negatively impact minorities in business in the UK, 40 years after the term was coined. It is fair and there is value in working towards eliminating the impact the glass ceiling continues to have. Managers are identified as viable candidates to act as change agents regarding the change surrounding the elimination of the glass ceiling. Therefore, this research investigates how managers, as change agents, can aid the elimination of the glass ceiling in British business. This investigation is done through a thorough review of literature, followed by exploratory, ethnographically inclined collection of expert perspectives on the glass ceiling, change agents, managers, and the combination of those concepts to eliminate the glass ceiling. The result was a conceptual model of how managers could employ certain practices and change management strategies to help eliminate the glass ceiling at their company.

Keywords

Glass ceiling, Change agent, Managers, Managerial practices, Change management

Keywords

Glass ceiling, Change agent, Managerial practices, Managers, Change management

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 6. 1. 2020

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 17. 9. 2020
• Supervisor: Tomáš Ryška
• Reader: Felipe Martínez

Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze

Master programme / field:
Ekonomika a management / Management