Business Research Methods: Investigating Gender Equality and Women's Evolution into Leadership in Business and Society Sectors

This report discusses the investigation of gender equality and women's evolution into leadership in business and society sectors. It highlights the importance of giving equal opportunities to male and female staff and the impact of effective leadership on organizational performance. The report uses a positivism and inductive approach to collect information and data on the topic.

Business Research
Methods

Table of Contents
Table of Contents.............................................................................................................................2
Comparing two research methodologies.........................................................................................1
1.2 Selected Key readings................................................................................................................2
Literature Analysis...........................................................................................................................3
1.3 Two appropriate research methods............................................................................................4
Section 2..........................................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCE................................................................................................................................10

Comparing two research methodologies
1:1 Research Problem
Research methodology is the broad term to understand which is used by researchers to
conduct research for the purpose of developing their business and maintaining higher
performance. The present report focuses on the analysis and choice of the research methods
and topic: an investigation into gender equality, a case study of women’s evolution into
leadership in business and society sectors, in between 2015-2022. This report will highlight
women's empowerment that is handling business in a changing environment and creating their
own introduction in front of people (Coe, Waring, Hedges, and Ashley, eds., 2021). In other
words, the report is going to discuss gender equality and whether employers should give women
staff an opportunity to show their talent and manage the work effectively. It is important for each
organisation to give equal opportunity to male and female staff, as they also have the talent and
confidence to share information and get work done. This can help them operate their business
regularly and support the development of organisational productivity.
The area of research has been taken by conducting studies about 1) gender equality, where
women are evolving into leadership in business and 2) the social sector in between 2015-2022.
These and related concepts are most often viewed from a post-modernist perspective, thus
requiring an interpretative (inductive) approach in research that will help to complete the
research.
Studies in relation to the topic of study often take a normative stance, delivering findings on
what leadership activities are going to be positive and affect organisational performance and
make it successful. The female employees are also affected at the same time as they have the
ability to manage all functions and active-ties in the changing environment of the business
industry and provide support to make a successful business. According to (Hennink, Hutter, and
Bailey, 2020), since 2015, the number of women in top positions in business has increased, and
diversity in leadership is beneficial to the company. Beyond business, female leaders from all
generations are collaborating to develop innovative solutions to the world's most pressing issues.
To fully realise the Fourth Industrial Revolution's potential and ensure that technology is
developed in a balanced manner, the IT industry needs to attract more women. It has been seen
that the overall number of women in top business roles is still painfully low. But only 5% of
CEOs of major corporations in the US are women, who are clearly performing their roles and
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responsibilities by becoming effective leaders that support organisational performance, but there
are reasons for optimism. Since 2015, the number of women in senior leadership has grown,
particularly since it has increased from 17% to 21% (Sharma, 2019).
The research question is designed as:
How women is becoming is an effective leader and impacting on organizational
performance?
1.2 Selected Key readings
Relevant theoretical concepts involve (1) leadership studies, (2) studies on innovation,
and (3) selected inter-disciplinary studies on "leadership" as a phenomenon in this report. The
researcher will develop their knowledge and skills in field of leadership that support the
development of business performance and increase productivity.
Leadership in past periods, such as before 2015, was not effective as women were not
allowed to work in higher positions or give their opinion while working together. No one
understood that women also have equal rights to share information and manage business
activities in a changing environment, as it created the problem of lower productivity and sales.
By focusing on leadership, which is a process whereby an individual influences a group of
individuals for the purpose of achieving common goals. The aim of each organisation is to offer
a better quality of products by adopting changes and challenges in the workplace that support
business productivity and profitability improvement. The modernist approach is used to state that
there are two approaches of leadership, transactional and transformational, which are used for
different purposes in managing organisational activities. It has been determined that women use
transactional leadership theory to influence their followers through a series of value exchange
transactions (Vogel, Reichard, Batisti, and erne, 2021).It also works with subordinates and
managers for the purpose of achieving results, but they do not look at things from an outside
perspective to facilitate change. The women use this leadership as an effective theory where a
number of people follow and give their contribution to complete the task. Another leadership
theory is transformational, which is used by leaders who are influenced by appealing to the needs
and higher motivations of followers. This approach helps to bring about positive changes and
develop organisational productivity. The post-modernist scientific approach introduced
discussion regarding the increasing role of followers in the origin of leadership along with
subjective leadership nature. In between, attribution theory and psychodynamic theory are used
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by people to understand what others want and how they could be satisfied so that products and
services are provided to them that develop organisational performance. Leadership is more
complex in the digital age as the leader needs to attend to the needs of "knowledge workers" who
are more independent and skilful. All are effective in participating in leadership at corporate
levels. The theories are used to create an effective leadership process and to support the effective
implementation of changes (Halperin and Heath, 2020).
Literature Analysis
The literature review on women evolving into leadership in business and society sectors
between 2015-2022 suggests that following interpretive and constructive approaches is more
effective than disclosing the leadership nature and attitude change in subjective nature. This will
help to bring changes in existing work and support the development of organisational
productivity (Jhangiani, Chiang, Cuttler, and Leighton, 2019).
Women are evolving into leadership in business and the social sector. This refers to applying a
business model that is driven by an organisation by giving them the opportunity to adopt changes
and grow their business in a changing environment. These women are becoming the leaders of
business organisations. The above discussion belongs to theories of leadership and management
as being incremental and disruptive. In disruptive cases, leadership is being used to drive
innovation and reduce stress, which can help operate a business effectively and support
organisational performance. After considering collaboration and self-regulation rather than
hierarchy, a post-modernist perspective on leadership has emerged. It has become critical for an
individual to understand what their employees want and how they can be satisfied so that the
appropriate level of service and support can be provided (Ullah, Fang, and Jebran, 2019). The
hierarchical leadership approach has been shifted as it was the top-down aspects in which
information is shared from seniors to subordinates that created the communication gaps and
affected organisational productivity. There is an innovation that has been introduced that impacts
similarly on leaders, such as behaviours and attitudes. The list of reviews in this report is far
from complete and reveals the following facts: The changes in leadership became important in
the modern period as team members worked collectively to identify the needs of others and
provide the right suggestions to work effectively. The women are working as leaders who
understand the goals of the organisation and give their contribution to accomplishing their
business goals. It describes how changes are needed to grow a business and manage all functions
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(Argyres, De Massis, and et.al., 2020). The subsequent leadership is related to bringing new
activities and functions with the help of new technology to support improvement in
organisational performance. The women's leader is using new technology such as artificial
intelligence, cloud computing, and machine learning to help bring changes in existing
performance. For example, Whitbread, which was founded by Alison Brittain in 2016, taking
over from Andy Harrison, She was previously considered for the CEO role at Royal Bank of
Scotland as her previous experience included heading up Lloyds Banking Group’s retail
operation. This lady became an effective leader while running and managing their business
effectively, which supported the development of organisational productivity. Effective leadership
is expected to radically change competencies, work conditions, and work relations in every
organisation (Nielsen, Eden, and Verbeke, 2020).
By conducting survey and using multi-disciplinary approach on leadership that impact on
business and society positively. This is important for each industry to analysis the environment
and introduce changes effectively that supports to develop their organizational productivity and
profitability.
1.3 Two appropriate research methods
Relevant theoretical concepts involve (1) leadership studies, (2) studies on innovation, and
(3) selected inter-disciplinary studies on "leadership" as a
Research methodology is defined as published work that is designed for the purpose of
improving existing work and bringing about changes effectively. The practical "how" of any
piece of research is referred to as a research technique. It's about how a researcher designs a
study in a systematic way to produce accurate and reliable results that address the study's goals
and objectives. The researcher is responsible for conducting the research after analysing the
market and environment. This can help to adopt changes and manage all work effectively. In
other words, research methodology refers to the methodical way in which a researcher designs a
study in order to achieve accurate data that fits the study's goals and objectives (Esen, Bellibas,
and Gumus, 2020). In a dissertation, thesis, or academic journal article, a research methodology
chapter (or section) covers the components that are used to share different activities. Research
methodology involves different layers of methodology such as philosophy, approach, research
strategy, choices of research, time horizon, data collection, and analysis that are used by
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researchers to make the right decisions. The current topic of research is how women are evolving
into leadership in business and the social sector. This means, nowadays, women is not only
handle their homes but also manage and arrange organisational activities too. Working women
have created their own introductions by handling their businesses along with managing their
homes. This has made me feel proud in front of people who have helped me achieve both
personal and professional goals (Van Barneveld et al., 2020).
From the analysis, it has been determined that Females have created their own introduction
with business sector as well as society as it has different skills and abilities to manage all
activities. The leadership not only provides clear goals and theoretical models for business
concerns but also shows effective ways that are used to bring about changes and accomplish
personal goals. The philosophies of research are interpretivism and positivism, which are used by
research in relation to conducting research. The current research topic is how women designed
leadership in business and social sectors, where managers introduce various types of activities
for the purpose of effectively growing their business and achieving their goals. There is a lack of
hypothesis information that directly affects the study in a changing environment. The positivism
philosophy is used by research in relation to current research by assuming reality exists
independently of the thing and topic being studied. This can help to manage all functions and
activities effectively. That supports managing all activities. A researcher uses the research
philosophy to share their information and conduct the proper study by managing all changes and
adhering to leadership practices (Smith, and Suby-Long, 2019).
Section 2
After study the environment it has been explained that absence of leadership theoretical
model favouring the positivism method that helps to collect information and data about
leadership from various sources that supported to develop the activities and performance in
changing environment and supports to accomplish the personal goals. There is not hypothesis
information about leaders as it shows hypotheses data which could be used to arranging all topics
and managing higher productivity (Porter, 2021).
The approaches within research methodology are inductive, and deductive which are used
to collecting data on particular topic and supports to complete the task in certain period of time.
The deductive approach formulates a research approach to evaluate a hypothesis or hypotheses
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based on a pre-existing theory. This method is best suited to situations when the goal of the study
is to see if the observed occurrences match expectations based on past research. The deductive
approach thus might be considered particularly suited to the positivist approach, which permits
the formulation of hypotheses and the statistical testing of expected results to an accepted level
of probability. This approach also may be used with qualitative techniques that can help to
collect information and data on a particular topic. This is characterised as the development from
general to particular. The approach under methodology is inductive that is characterised as a
move from the specific to general. In this, observations are starting point for the researcher, and
pattern is looked in data. The approach is characterised as a move from the specific to the
general. There is no framework which initially informs the data collection and research focus on
specific topic from where new theories are generated and collected the data on different basis
(Hurley, and Choudhary, 2020).
Use of methodology
It has been defined that women are the power of any business now a days as they possess
multiple skills to handle the business and give their contribution to accomplish business goals.
By conducting the positivism approach, it has analysed that in period of 2015 to 2022 women are
becoming effective leader who understand organizational goals and motivate their staff to work
effectives that supports to develop organizational productivity and profitability.
Most of the research on leadership has been quantitative as it is far strategy which is
commonly concerned with new technology and collection of data theoretically. Thus, positivism
and inductive approach has been used by researcher to collect information and managing it
properly that can help to operate the business functions and activities effectively. The
quantitative research is beneficial for researcher as information are valid, reliability, and
measured effectively that supported to research and accomplish the research functions properly.
The researcher stated that many research has been administered on global scale and in multiple
environments that provided the right outcomes by collecting data. The strategy of research are
experiment, interviews, questionnaire, case study, action research, and systematic literature
review that all are used to collecting information and manage all activities. From the earlier
discussion interview and questionnaire is defined as effective strategy which can be used by
researcher to add more information and bringing changes in their existing thoughts. Within a
community of practise, action research is defined as a practical response to a specific research
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problem. It entails assessing current practise to ensure that it is consistent with the best approach.
It usually involves reflective practise, which is a methodical procedure for evaluating a
practitioner's professional activity and experience. The surveys produce quantitative data that can
be analysed empirically (Hurley, and Choudhary, 2020). Surveys are most commonly used to
examine causative variables between different types of data. This also helps to manage the all
study in relation to particular topic. It has been analysed that leadership was often measured
against economic, and financial dependent variables such as productivity. The Studying effect
for quantifiable variables favours quantitative methods implementation that can help to manage
all data properly. The time horizon in research method is showing time framework which is
designed by researcher to complete their research in certain period of time and maintain the
higher performance. This is important for each individual to analysis the environment and comes
to know which time horizon should be use by researcher to complete their study. This involves
cross sectional, and longitudinal which are used for different purpose (Offermann, Thomas,
Lanzo, and Smith, 2020). The cross sectional horizon is used where data must be collected.
This is dubbed the snapshot time collection from where the data is collected at a certain point.
A longitudinal time horizon for data collection is explained to the collection of data on
repeated basis over an extended period. The time horizon selection is not dependent on specific
research approach or methodology (Xheneti, Karki, and Madden, 2019). Data collection and
analysis is the another method of research methodology which is used to collect data by
contributing into overall reliability and validity. The method of data analysis is primary and
secondary. When information are collected by using first hand sources such as interview, survey,
case study and others is considered as primary data collection. Oppositely, when data is collected
from already collected sources and supports to manage all activities is considered as secondary
data collection. In relation to current research about women’s evolving into leadership in a
business and society primary as well as secondary method has been collected by researcher that
can help to manage the information and provide positive outcomes. This also could be explained
as researcher will collect data on selected topic and would support to develop productivity.
The proposed research instrument’s potential for new knowledge generation
The above discussion stated that there are different methodologies which are used by
researchers to develop their understanding and knowledge of particular topics. The positivism
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philosophy and deductive approach are being used by researchers to collect information by
selecting the best option that helps to develop an understanding that women are contributing to
business leadership and society by managing all functions and changes effectively (Porter, 2021).
Selection and critique of most relevant research methods
For a researcher, it is important to have a good research topic so that proper research can
be conducted and supported to develop organisational performance. Semi structured interviews
are explained as many researchers acknowledge the high interpretative and context dependent
nature of leadership, which advocates for qualitative and inductive approaches. In relation to
current research, researchers make use of an inductive approach to their study. Most of the
researchers explored the attitudes, behaviours, and values of their leaders who supported their
study and managed all activities. In this method, a preselected topic was chosen, such as
women's evolving into leadership in business and society. Many questions were asked that
helped to complete the functions (Omar, Minoufekr, and Plapper, 2019). Before selecting this
method, its pros and cons are defined below:
Justification:
In many cases, leadership is not effective because a leader behaves differently with
employees when all are not treated equally. That creates challenges for an organisation to operate
their business. Women are changing the world and people’s minds as they are not only handling
their homes but also becoming successful business leaders. By using semi structured interviews,
many questions about women's empowerment and its contribution to business and society are
supported in the current study. The researcher tends to use a mixed methods strategy that can
help to collect information. Using semi-structured data could be an opportunity for researchers
that have justified that it will help to accomplish research outcomes (Offermann, Thomas, Lanzo,
and Smith, 2020).
Pros: A semi-structured interview will provide you with a deep understanding of how
women are contributing to organisational success by becoming successful business leaders from
leaders. This will be able to identify integral and discrete transformations in relation to
leadership that are used to sharing beliefs, leadership experiences and maintaining relationships
with followers that support the completion of the research in certain period.
Cons – Semi-structured interviews are time-consuming and expensive to conduct, which
may make it difficult for researchers to complete their studies. When interview questions have
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been prepared, the interviewer may bias the interviewee to be more or less effective (Ullah,
Fang, and Jebran, 2019).
Self-completed Questionnaire
After observing it can be said that self-completed questionnaire is used by researcher to
design different questions in relation to particular research. This method confirms their
researcher that all assumptions and study has been done on regular basis. This also helps to
maintain relationship between quantifying variables and testing significantly. The researcher
analysis all information about women evolving into leadership in business and society it
participate in all activities and share their thoughts to complete research (Nielsen, Eden, and
Verbeke, 2020).
Pros: Because the current study involves a longitudinal horizon, it necessitates the
collection of data on a regular basis. The topic of current research is a multi-dimensional and
multi factor process that helps to capture all functions and activities. This can help to develop
understanding and knowledge by preparing self-questions (Kaufman, 2019).
Cons – Because a large number of questions must be asked of a larger population, this
can cause issues for others. This is a time-consuming taken method where there is no control
over upcoming thoughts. This research is based on a hypothesis that could be wrong and
disclosure.
CONCLUSION
From the report, it can be concluded that gender equality means sexual equality where
male and female have equal opportunity to work and attain the higher performance. The women
are evolving into leadership, and society as it understand the demand and made efforts to fill
them. The research methods such as semi-structured and self-completion are the most commonly
used methods. A semi-structured method has been selected by the researcher that can help to
collect information about women's leadership in business and society by managing all functions
and introducing new thoughts that support the development of all activities and completing the
research in a certain period of time. Good research provides a reliable and valid source of
information that supports all management inquiries and conducts testing to confirm it.
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