Women as leaders in construction in a northwestern U.S. city: A multiple-case study of the effectiveness of motivation practices and success strategies

Abstract

Women have a low level of representation in the construction industry, even though they are nearly half of the U.S. workforce. This study sought to understand the motivation processes and successful work outcome strategies of woman leaders in construction, many of whom created a niche and advanced in the workforce. The specific research question was: What may be learned from a study of the motivational processes and successful work outcome strategies used by successful woman leaders in the construction industry in a Northwestern U.S. city? Limited information exists in the literature on woman leaders in the construction industry as it relates to motivation processes and successful work outcome strategies. No peer-reviewed articles located discussed the effectiveness of motivational practices and success strategies. The literature review focused upon the theory of purposeful work behavior. A qualitative multiple-case study was conducted to interview 15 woman leaders in construction. The results reveal that woman leaders in construction are strong and resilient, need strong support systems, and still face many roadblocks. Recommendation for future research include a replication of the study in the fields of medicine, aerospace, banking, finance, and maritime. The information gathered in this study will aid future researchers and spur further research in the field of women in construction.