The research philosophy for this study is centered around the acquisition of skills and knowledge, prioritizing the understanding of human behavior through people's descriptions and experiences in specific situations. The study focuses on career barriers for Hong Kong women managers, which include sexual harassment, work and family stress, stereotyping of genders, and negative attitudes towards female managers from employees. As a result, this study will adopt an interpretivism philosophy, as it explores different meanings and interpretations that individuals may have about their own experiences. Collis and Hussey (2003) observe that interpretivism acknowledges the constantly changing nature of the social world and recognizes that both the researcher and research itself contribute to this change.
The interpretivism approach addresses the requirement for adaptability when responding to societal and global business changes, whereas positivism focuses on discovering obj
...ective truths through scientific methods and variable relationships. The purpose of this research is to investigate how female managers in Hong Kong overcome career obstacles within their industry and whether a bamboo ceiling exists. Qualitative research will be conducted by conducting interviews with female managers in Hong Kong. Saunders et al (2003) emphasize that the deductive or inductive nature of an approach determines whether it analyzes existing theories or establishes new ones based on recent findings.
There are two approaches to conducting research in today's global business environment: deductive and inductive. The deductive approach involves creating a theory that is then tested, while the inductive approach involves developing a theory from collected data analysis. This study aims to explain an existing situation rather than finding a specific theory, making the interpretivism philosophy more appropriate. An inductive approach aligns with this philosophy as it
develops explanations based on specific cases rather than assuming results from general conjectures (Creswell, 1994; Jankowikz, 2000; Collis and Hussey, 2003; Saunders et al., 2003).
Both quantitative and qualitative data can be obtained through research. Quantitative methods rely on statistics and numerical analysis, while qualitative methods focus on understanding and interpreting specific situations (Blaxter et al., 2001; Ghauri and Gronhaug, 2002; Berg, 2004). Berg (2004) references Dabbs (1982) in highlighting the importance of quality in the nature of things, while quantity refers to the amount of something.
According to Ghauri and Gronhaug (2002), qualitative and quantitative data analysis complement each other. As Blaxter et al. (2001, p. 199) state, "qualitative data may be quantified, and quantitative data qualified." Ghauri and Gronhaug (2002) contend that qualitative methods are more suitable when the research is inductive, as it enables a comprehensive understanding of phenomena by delving deeper into them. Therefore, this investigation will utilize a qualitative data approach to compare and contrast the opinions and experiences of women executives in Hong Kong regarding the impact of the bamboo ceiling on their career advancement. The study will rely on interviews, resulting in data that reflects the personal interpretations and meanings expressed by participants (Saunders et al., 2000).
In business, qualitative data may be time-consuming and costly, but it provides more accurate analysis and interpretation results (Collis and Hussey, 2003). Therefore, for investigating career barriers faced by female managers in Hong Kong and understanding how they deal with such barriers, a qualitative approach is preferred. As suggested by Jankowicz (1999), a research strategy is essential to plan the research process, including data collection methods, objectives, and research questions in order to answer
the research question effectively (Saunders et al.).
Within this section, clarification of the research question and establishment of limitations for data collection will occur. The reasoning behind selecting specific participants will also be explained. For phenomenological methodologies, common strategies utilized by authors include case studies, surveys, experiments, and exploratory methods (Saunders et al., 2000; Blaxter et al., 2001; Collis and Hussey, 2003; Jankowicz, 2005).
For this research, the best approach is a case study because the variables being measured are the responses, reasons, experiences, and influences that Hong Kong women managers encounter. According to Berg (2004, p.251), a case study method involves gathering enough information about a particular person, social setting, event, or group to allow the researcher to understand how the subject operates. The aim of this research is to identify the career barriers and challenges faced by Hong Kong women managers. A case study strategy is ideal for gaining an in-depth understanding of these obstacles through methods such as personal discussions, mutual interactions, observations, and document reviews. These are just a few of the data sources utilized in the case study method to conduct research.
The article outlines aspects of a study that may not be demonstrated by surveys or other forms of research (Saunders et al., 2000; Berg, 2004). Collis and Hussey (2003, p. 68) identify four types of case study: descriptive, illustrative, experimental, and explanatory.
The current study is intended to identify career hurdles encountered by female managers in Hong Kong, in line with the aim and objectives. This makes it an exemplifying research, as it seeks to demonstrate fresh and potentially groundbreaking management practices.
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