Differences between Czech Male and Female Managers

Daniela Pauknerova, Ph.D. University of Economics, Prague

Introduction two main points of view in management studies: 1. female managers are different, they use different leadership style Rosener (1990), Helgesen (1990) 2. more similarities than differences: Eagly 2001, 2007, Bass 1990, 1997, Kolb Czech culture is specific traditional, masculine, secular

Masculinity and femininity at work Hofstede

Masculine society
Dominant value is material success and progress Money and material things are important Managers should be assertive and decisive Emphasis on equity, competition and achievement Conflict resolution the best wins

Feminine society
Dominant value is taking care of others People and good relations are important Managers use intuition and consensus Emphasis on equality, solidarity and quality of working life Conflict resolution by compromise and negotiation

Cross-cultural research, mean gender role equity scores (Univ.of Pittsburgh, Frieze et al., 2007) Men Women
USA
Central and Est. Europe Albania Croatia Czech Rep. Hungary Lithuania Poland Russia Slovakia Slovenia

3,68
3,59 3,20 3,56 3,62 3,69 3,37 3,21 3,59 3,92 3,84

4,13*
4,00* 3,67 4,09 3,95 4,02 3,66 3,66 3,77 4,16 4,25

Attitudes toward feminism

We can not listen to today's popular isms, such as feminismthese isms don't support freedom, there are endangering it. V.Klaus, Czech president, November 2006.

Research questions What attitudes do people have toward women at work and in leadership positions? Do female and male leaders differ: - in their personality traits, - in their behavior?

Study 1 - Career expectations students - 94 females, 93 males 1. Expectations related to women and men at work. 2. Expectations related to personal and family life. 3. Expectations related to women and men in managerial positions.

Findings (Part 1 and 2) 1. Socially desirable answers (40%): Women should have the same rights as men. Married women should not be discriminated. Married men should let their wives work if they wish so. 2. Women as well as men should do housework. Women are better in housekeeping.mostly men, Housework is unfortunately mostly a women's work. mostly women

Findings 3 women in managerial positions

Critique of female traits Women should work not just to talk..they should think when they work.. Women should be more masculine: Women should be more assertive.. Women should be feminine: Women should behave like fair sexshould do what is suitable for them etc. Male leaders are better, are more flexible than women.. Female leaders pass through role conflict..they sacrifice their family Female leaders are ridiculous..I would never marry female leader..

Study 2 - Survey - Attitudes toward women and men at work and male and female leaders (143 M,180 F), mean age 30, random choice

Women are perceived as different from men and this fact determines their lower status. Cooperation with women is worse than with men particularly as for application of new procedures and technologies and innovations. Personality traits of ideal leader: 1. Provides clear information 2. Flexibility 3. Expertness 4. Decisiveness 5. Fairness 6. Good listener 7. Industriousness

Study 3 differences in personality traits Sample: middle level managers in financial sector - 261 males, 144 females 72 % university degree age: 46 and more - 29 m., 26 f., 31 45 - 149 m., 61 f. 30 and less - 83 m., 57 f. Method: personality questionnaire IHAVEZ (300 questions) 3 clusters of traits: motivation, risk taking, stress tolerance, 3 independent traits: self-confidence,

Personality traits differences

Personality traits T-test
t = 4,28 *
t = 4,26 *

Results
men are more motivated
men are more prone to risk taking

level of motivation
risk taking

stress tolerance
aspiration level need to assert oneself self-confidence responsibility

t = 0,89
t = 4,57 *

N.S.
men have higher aspirations men are more prone to assert themselves N.S. N.S. N.S.

t= 3, 99 *

t=-0,81 t= 0,90

femininity/masculinity t =-0,42

Differences in behavior observation in model situations assessment centre (role play, team work activities, presentation 4 observers 2 organizational psychologists, 2 HR specialists 5 assessed characteristics assertiveness, leadership skills, communication skills, stress tolerance, authority Scale 1 to 4, 1 best performance, 4 poor performance

Observed characteristics Assertiveness able to assert oneself with respect toward others Leadership skills organizational skills, decision making skills, leading different activities Communication skills presentation skills, clear expression of ideas, ability to motivate others, ability to persuade Stress tolerance able to cope with stress, self-confident, absence of nervousness Authority charisma, accepted by others as leader

Behavioral differences
Observed characteristics T-test Results

assertiveness
leadership skills communication skills stress tolerance authority

t = 0,83
t = -0,43 t = 0,079 t = -0,46 t = 0,70

N.S.
N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S.

Conclusions Male and female managers differ significantly on assertiveness, motivation and risk taking (based on self-report) Male and female managers do not differ regarding their assertiveness, leadership skills, communication skills, stress tolerance and authority (based on observation) There are more similarities than differences between male and female managers

Discussion Women with masculine characteristics are selected to managerial positions Women tend to adopt masculine style of behavior to succeed in management Managers are specific population group characterised by higher need of assertion, higher level of risk taking, globally higher aspirations, high personality integrity, higher self-confidence, responsibility and in our cultural context also higher level of masculinity.

Limitations and next steps Self report Model not real life situations Observers

To analyse correlations between personality traits and observed behavior To use sample from different business branch To focuse more on leadership style