Women at the top: unlocking the full potential of women in leadership in the petroleum industry=Abesifazane abaseqhulwini: siqaqa amandlakuzenzela aphelele abesifazane abangabaholi embonini kaphethiloli.

Abstract

Abstract The study investigated the challenges faced by women in their endeavour to climb up to managerial positions in the petroleum industry in South Africa. The study was motivated by an overwhelmingly huge female worker population in the operational levels, resulting in a disproportionate representation of men and women in this sector. The study also conducted a detailed literature search which revealed that there were limited studies on women leadership in the petroleum industry, creating a gap which the study sought to close. The study employed the mixed method approach using the quantitative and qualitative methods to gather and analyse data. Thus, a sample of 315, participated in the quantitative study (questionnaire) while 10 participants participated in the qualitative study (interviews). Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), descriptive and inferential statistical techniques using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0 software were used to analyse the quantitative data while thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. The study findings revealed that women still face challenges such as lack of confidence, male dominance and others. Based on these findings, some recommendations were made such as initiatives focusing on creative approaches to limited learning opportunities and looking for mentors. The study also recommended the need to increase male participation in female lobby and interest groups for gender equality policies and programmes, strengthen e-learning on women leadership and increased women involvement and participation at strategic levels. Further, it is imperative to develop ethics committees and revisit the recruitment process for leadership positions in the industry.

Iqoqa: Ucwaningo luhlose ukuphenya izinselelo ezibhekene nabesifazane ezikhundleni zobuholi embonini kaphethiloli eNingizimu Afrikha. Ucwaningo lugqugquzelwe yiqoqobantu elisebenzayo elikhulu kakhulu labesifazane emazingeni okwenza umsebenzi, nokuholele ekumelweni okunesikali esingalingani kwabesilisa nabesifazane kulo mkhakha. Umcwaningi waphinde wahlaziya ucwaningo olwehlukehlukene olwenziwe abanye abacwaningi, kodwa ubone ukuthi kusenesikhala ngoba kunocwaningo oluncane olugxile embonini kaphethiloli.

Ucwaningo lwasebenzisa indlelakwenza exube izindlela, lapho kwasetshenziswa khona izinhlumibuzo emininingweni yekhwantithethivu eyayivela kubabambiqhaza. Ngaphezu kwalokho, umcwaningi wasebenzisa amasampula okuqondiwe ukukhetha izinhlumibuzo ezingama-315 awasebenzisa ngokuwahlanganisa namanothi ezimposambuzo zababambiqhaza abayi-10 ukuhlaziya nokudingida imininingo ngaphansi kwendlelakwenza yekhwalithethivu. Okutholwe wucwaningo kukhombise ukuthi abesifazane basabhekene nezinkinga njengokungabi nokuzethemba, ukuqonelwa abesilisa nokunye.

Ngokususela kulokhu okutholakele, okunye okuphakanyisiwe kwenziwa ukuze iziqalo ezinjalo zigxile ezindleleni zokuziqambela ezibhekana namathuba okufunda anqindiwe nokubheka okungabukelwa kubo. Ucwaningo luphinde futhi luphakamise isidingo sokwenyusa ukubamba iqhaza kwabesilisa kwabesifazane okuxoxwa nabo namaqembu anentshisekelo nokwenyusa izinqubomgomo zokulingana ngokobulili, ukuqinisa i-e-learning kwabesifazane abangabaholi ababamba iqhaza emazingeni okuthatha izinqumo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kubalulekile ukuthuthukisa amakomidi endlelakuziphatha bese kubhekwa kabusha uhlelo lokuqasha ezikhundleni zobuholi embonini.

Amagama asemqoka: Imboni kaphethiloli, ubuholi babesifazane, ubulili, ubuholi obufaka konke, iminotho equbukayo.