Role of Women in Leadership in Construction Project Management

This assignment explores the role of women in leadership in managing construction projects and the challenges they face. It discusses the importance of leadership for project success, the need for women leadership in the construction industry, the impact of female leadership in construction project management, and the challenges faced by female leaders. The research methodology includes a literature review and data collection through questionnaires. The findings highlight the benefits of promoting women in leadership positions and the value of gender equality in the workplace.

Women in Leadership
Role

Abstract and Keywords
Purpose of this assignment
The main purpose of present study is to determine the women's leadership role in
managing the construction project. In respect of such project management, illustration is
provided to understand how promoting women in leadership position, helps in developing
creativity and obtaining right outcomes. To utilise positive skills and behaviour of people, how
women as a leader contribute their efforts, is the main concerning part of this assignment.
Furthermore, focus also given on challenges that they face by getting such specific role within
construction project, that requires more attention and efforts from a leader to deliver successful
outcomes. For this purpose, a number of articles has been explored within literature part. This
would help in evaluating the concept of gender equality that companies are promoting at
workplace, for utilising positive skills of human resource, with development of leadership ability
which is significant for improvement of management performance.
Design / Research Methodology/ Approach
A literature review is done at prior manner to grab knowledge about leadership position
of female and challenges they have faced to person responsibilities of the same. For this purpose,
a number of articles and journals have been taken to gather the secondary data. Furthermore,
associated people of construction industry are requisite to respond towards questionnaires, that
based on promoting women's leadership in project management. For this purpose, to fill the
structured questionnaire on this concept, 30 respondents are chosen from a convenient group of
Construction/Project Managers, Quantity Surveyors, Architects, Engineers, Contractors and
Business Clients. This group of population has possessed knowledge about complexity of
construction project and how an active and effective leader contributes to manage the same, with
great delivery of successful outcomes.
Findings
Through research on position of woman as a leader within construction industry, it has
been identified that due to presence of male dominance where man are avoid to work under
guidance of female leaders, arise a number of challenges in front of them. Therefore, changing in
these areas, would help in empowering woman to show their talents and becomes an effective
leader.
Value

The value of present provisional study, with respect of understanding aspects of current
women leadership status within construction industry, have formed a basis of appropriate
comprehensive study, especially on leadership ability and skills. Presence of women in
management position especially as a leader, promote positivity at workplace, because they have
possessed good influencing skills that easily persuade the subordinates towards achievement of
organisational goals. Therefore, promoting women empowerment as a leadership role, also leads
to place great motivation and better outcomes. It showcase the challenges that female leaders
face in influencing the mixed-gender management team, that adversely impact on result of
construction project.
Keywords:
Leadership styles, Strategic Leadership, Blending Learning, Communication, Information
communication technology (ICT), Safety leadership, Organisational communication,
communication skills, performance, employee feelings

Table of Contents
Abstract and Keywords....................................................................................................................2
Topic: To evaluate the role of Women leadership in management of construction project............1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Literature Review.............................................................................................................................1
Importance of leadership for project success..............................................................................1
Need of Women Leadership in construction industry.................................................................2
Impact of Female Leadership in construction project management...........................................2
Challenges faced by female leaders in managing the construction project................................3
Research Methodology....................................................................................................................3
Data analysis and Discussion...........................................................................................................5
Data analysis...............................................................................................................................5
Discussion.................................................................................................................................13
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14
Appendix........................................................................................................................................15

Topic: To evaluate the role of Women leadership in management of
construction project
INTRODUCTION
Women in today's modern business environment, has gradually increase their presence as
an effective leader, by breaking down the traditional glass ceiling which barred them from
entrance in leadership position. Women are evolving constantly in managing the projects by
possessing the requisite skills, in order to reach new milestones throughout a wide spectrum of
activities (Rosenbach, 2018). Leadership is not a new concept, it refers to a set of qualities that
can be inherent by learning experience. It helps in cultivating a person to become great leader,
regardless of age factor and gender difference, with mass following. Having this ability either a
man or woman, can influence behaviour of others positively and persuade them for following a
particular course of action (Dzubinski, 2018). For managing a project success, leadership
contributes a major role, to get work systematically from team-members, where leaders provide
clear vision, scheduling activities and way to perform the same. In an industry, effective
leadership can be cultivated by encouraging and motivating the team as per organisation culture
towards successful delivery of project. This study mainly focuses on female leadership, in
managing the construction project, where dynamic is being developed by providing opportunity
for women to show their level of competence in the same.
Literature Review
Importance of leadership for project success
According to Gavin Donnely (2019), it has been evaluated that for project management,
developing leadership skills considers as most important aspect, to oversee the entire activities
and take critical decisions. This leads to great success of project, whereby, leaders contributes to
share clear vision, proper planning, flexibility and high decision-making power to influence
subordinates by proper communication, for successful delivery of outcomes (Why Developing
leadership skills matters for project management?, 2019). Effective communication and
managerial skills, are vital components for project managers, who communicate with wider
organisations about goals, vision and guidelines, at all levels of hierarchies (Podgórska and
Pichlak, 2019). To take entire responsibilities of project success, it becomes essential for
1

manager to develop leadership skills like sharing a vision, planning, flexibility and critically
making the decisions. By developing all these abilities, in addition to technical skills, project
maker can enhance chances of success.
Need of Women Leadership in construction industry
As women possess a number of key characteristics that reflects their effective leadership
qualities, so, giving opportunity to them for management position in construction project, lead an
industry to achieve high outcomes (Hardey, 2019). Female leaders as comparison with male, are
more transformational and actively play as a role model for subordinates to encourage them to
hard work (Why Construction industry needs more Women in Leadership?, 2019). Women as
managerial position, emphasis more on teamwork, where qualities to effect communication and
make friendly relationship with staff, considered as best key to success. Females relatively are
focused on developing perfection in each tasks and meet their deadlines (Kim and Kim, 2018).
They prefer to work in collaborative workplace and motivates others to actively give their
contribution in successful completion of project.
Impact of Female Leadership in construction project management
Giving opportunity to females in management and leadership position, aid an
organisation to promote cooperation and collaboration among subordinates (Opoku and
Williams, 2019). This will reduce the work load and pressure as well, when all associated people
share work of each other to meet deadline. Female leaders as possess a democratic style of
leadership, so, working under guidance of them, encourage and motivate people to work more
hard. Unlike with male counterparts, female leaders know how to brand and present themselves
at workplace, for enhancing professionalism under other staff (FEMALE LEADERSHIP: THE
IMPACT ON ORGANIZATIONS, 2018). This would increase the pace of positive and societal
transformation at workplace, where engagement of people in project success, gives better results.
From a managerial perspective, promoting females on leadership position, put a great impact on
organisational activities. As females have good power to maintain work and family life-balance
so, it shows that if giving position to them as project manager, then they can manages it more
efficiently. Female as a leaders also play a crucial role in resolving the challenges that other
women faces, while working in construction industry (Harrison and Leitch, 2018). It encourages
other women to actively participated in decision making process to improve and enhance success
outcomes of project. Along with this, as such projects constantly grapple with severe challenges
2

such as productivity and labour, therefore, growing space for females in management position,
provide solutions to resolve the same.
Challenges faced by female leaders in managing the construction project
As per opinion of (Harrison and Leitch, 2018), it has been evaluated that construction
industry most notoriously organisation, that includes a wide male-dominated professionals.
Number of female workers especially in management position, is relatively much less.
Therefore, encountering with gender-related challenges like sexual harassment, gender bias,
social perceptions and more, are create several barriers for women, to show their competencies in
managing the project. Male-dominated workplace in construction sector where project mostly
designed with men-mind, so, it leaves female at higher risk of injury on the field. In such place,
providing guidance to mass people for completing assigned tasks, create difficulties for female
leaders.
Research Methodology
Under this part of research, a number of methods are generally discussed, which are
going to be taken for conducting a study in specific manner. In context with present project
which is based on 'Women's position as a leader in construction industry' two main methods of
data collection have been chosen. It includes secondary research, where entire present and past
information about the given topic has been collected by using external sources. It includes books,
journals and websites where information about impact of female leadership on a construction
project and what challenges they have faced to obtain effective outcomes, are given through
various perceptive of researchers. Furthermore, to collect present information i.e. what
associated persons like Field Engineers, Contractors and Business Clients, Construction / Project
Managers, Quantity Surveyors, Architects, etc. think about this concept, primary sources are
take. For this purpose, a self-questionnaire form is framed which includes relevant question
about mentioned topic. This will be fulfilled by randomly select the thirty members of given
population that is associated people of construction industry.
3

Self-questionnaire form
QUESTIONNAIRE
1.) Are you aware with the role of leadership in construction project
management?
Frequency
 Yes 28
 No 2
2.) What type of challenges normally associated with a construction project? Frequency
 Safety due to high risk factor 8
 Stagnant productivity levels 8
 Shortage of labour 7
 Technology 7
3.) What is the most importance of leadership in construction management? Frequency
 Providing clear vision 15
 Managing risks and controlling quality 8
 Strategical planning 7
4.) Are you agree with the concept that female talent makes headway in
leadership?
Frequency
 Yes 18
 No 12
5.) What are the main qualities that a woman has possessed that makes them
able to perform leaders' role in construction project?
Frequency
 Effective communication skills 9
 Collaborative abilities 8
 Creative and innovative skills 8
 Better problem skills 5
4

6.) What type of challenges female leaders face in managing the construction
project?
Frequency
 Discrimination 12
 Less support of associated people 8
 Associated high risk factor 10
7.) Which area need to be concerned more by associated members of
construction industry to enhance female leadership?
Frequency
 Change in exiting stereotype 10
 Improvement in organisation culture 10
 Minimising the discrimination 10
8.) What are the main benefits of placing women on leadership position in
construction management?
Frequency
 Increasing creativity and innovation 11
 Improving quality of project 8
 Meeting the deadline of project 11
9.) Provide recommendation for improving and enhancing women's
leadership position in construction industry …
Data analysis and Discussion
Data analysis
Theme 1:
1.) Are you aware with the role of leadership in construction project
management?
Frequency
 Yes 28
 No 2
5

Interpretation: It has been interpreted from this statistical graph that within construction
industry, out of selected 30 respondents, knows about what role a leadership plays in managing
the construction project. They are acknowledged with the concept that without effective
leadership, any project cannot be succeeded. While remaining 2 respondents doesn’t have much
knowledge about the same concept.
Theme 2:
2.) What type of challenges normally associated with a construction
project?
Frequency
 Safety due to high risk factor 8
 Stagnant productivity levels 8
 Shortage of labour 7
 Technology 7
6
Yes No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
28
2
Column B

Interpretation: A construction project includes a number of challenging role for associated
people in completing it successfully. As per 8 respondents out of 30, it has been interpreted that
safety is considered as the most difficult one, because construction projects includes various risks
where any carelessness could lead to major injury or even death of people. While 8 respondents
believe that stagnant level of productivity is challenging ones due to less growth factors. Other
than this, among remaining ones, 7 respondents are in favour with shortage of labour and 7
towards technology.
Theme 3:
3.) What is the most importance of leadership in construction
management?
Frequency
 Providing clear vision 15
 Managing risks and controlling quality 8
 Strategical planning 7
7
Safety due to high risk factor
Stagnant productivity levels
Shortage of labour
Technology
6.4
6.6
6.8
7
7.2
7.4
7.6
7.8
8
8 8
7 7
Column B

Interpretation: Through the feedback of 15 respondents, it has been interpreted that leadership
in construction project is essential for providing clear vision to associated people in performing
their role. While remaining 7 participants stated that it is necessary for strategically planning the
whole procedure of construction. Other than this, rest of 8 respondents are believed that
managing risk and controlling the quality of project, can only be possible by the support of
effective leadership.
Theme 4:
4.) Are you agree with the concept that female talent makes headway
in leadership?
Frequency
 Yes 18
 No 12
8
Providing clear vision
Managing risks and controlling quality
Strategical planning
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Column G

Interpretation: As per this mentioned figure, it has been interpreted that 18 respondents out of
30 are believed that having the intellectual skills and high thinking power, enables a woman to
hold the position of leadership in construction project management. While 12 respondents think
that they are not so able because such projects consists a number of risks as well as requires
much time for managing, which are beyond the capabilities of woman.
Theme 5:
5.) What are the main qualities that a woman has possessed that
makes them able to perform leaders' role in construction project?
Frequency
 Effective communication skills 9
 Collaborative abilities 8
 Creative and innovative skills 8
 Better problem skills 5
9
Yes No
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
18
12
Column B

Interpretation: From this figure, it has been analysed that 9 respondents out of 30 think that
effective communication skills make a woman able to perform as a leader more effectively.
through this skill, they can easily influence the team members towards achievement of goals.
While 8 respondents are stated that women possess collaborative skills and other 8 are in favour
with creative and innovation skills for the same. The remaining 5 are believed that better
problem solving abilities makes a woman more able to show their leadership capabilities.
Theme 6:
6.) What type of challenges female leaders face in managing the
construction project?
Frequency
 Discrimination 12
10
Effective communication skills
Collaborative abilities
Creative and innovative skills
Better problem skills
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Column E

 Less support of associated people 8
 Associated high risk factor 10
Interpretation: In a construction project, when women take the position of leadership then they
face a number of challenges due to male dominated workplace. From 30 respondents, 12 are
believed that discrimination is the most challenging role that arise difficulties for women to
perform as a leader. While other 8 are stated that less support of associated people arise more
challenges for women and remaining 10 are in favour with high risk factor.
Theme 7:
7.) Which area need to be concerned more by associated members of
construction industry to enhance female leadership?
Frequency
 Change in exiting stereotype 10
 Improvement in organisation culture 10
 Minimising the discrimination 10
11
Discrimination
Less support of associated people
Associated high risk factor
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Column I

Interpretation: As woman talent makes headway in leadership therefore, in order to provide
them opportunity to work as a leader and contribute their efforts in managing the construction
project successfully, it is essential for upper management to concern a number of areas. From the
above figure, it has been analysed that 10 out of 30 respondents are stated towards improvement
in organisational culture. While 10 are in favour with changes in existing stereotype due to
presence of male dominance and remaining 10 for minimisation of discrimination for the same.
Theme 8:
8.) What are the main benefits of placing women on leadership
position in construction management ?
Frequency
 Increasing creativity and innovation 11
 Improving quality of project 8
 Meeting the deadline of project 11
12
Change in exiting stereotype
Improvement in organisation culture
Minimising the discrimination
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Column F

Interpretation: By placing woman on leadership position, a number of benefits can be gained
within construction industry. From 11 respondents point of view it includes majorly the
enhancement of creativity and innovation. While 8 respondents from 30 stated that improvement
in project quality is the most beneficial point of women leadership and remaining 11 for meeting
the deadline of project.
Discussion
From all over the discussion, it has been analysed that construction project management is
the most difficult task for associated people. Because it requires sufficient labours and resources
for construction, where including the number of risks factors shows the requirement of high
safety. Along with this, without proper setting of goals and specific guidance it is not possible to
complete a project successfully. Therefore, it is essential for a project manager to have effective
leadership qualities which would help in managing the project in desired way. For this purpose,
they can give this position to females also because they have possessed high intellectual skills,
communicating abilities and creativeness, that helps in influencing people more easily to choose
a specific path for completing the project on time. But because of workplace stereotype that is
male dominance, it arises a number of challenges also which affect the performance of woman
leadership. It includes discrimination at workplace like sexual harassment, risk factors and more,
13
Increasing creativity and innovation
Improving quality of project
Meeting the deadline of project
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Column J

which are necessary to minimise to gain benefits of woman leadership. The management of
construction industry is required to give more opportunity to female talent to work on leadership,
by eliminating the discrimination.
Conclusion
It has been concluded from this project report that today, women are able to perform any
difficult tasks and contribute equal efforts as man in achievement of corporate goals. Within
construction industry, in managing such a project if they are given opportunity to hold leadership
position, then high benefits in terms of quality, project deadline and innovation can be gained.
But due to male dominated area, it hides this talent of woman by creating a number of challenges
such as incorporation, sexually discriminate and more. Therefore, to empower to show their
leadership qualities for completing the project successfully, these factors are needed to be
minimised.
14

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Rosenbach, W. E., 2018. Contemporary issues in leadership. Routledge.
Dzubinski, L. M., 2018. Problem of Gender Essentialism and its Implications for Women in
Leadership. Journal of Leadership Studies, 12(1), p.56.
Podgórska, M. and Pichlak, M., 2019. Analysis of project managers’ leadership competencies:
Project success relation: what are the competencies of polish project
leaders?. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business.
Hardey, M., 2019. Women’s leadership and gendered experiences in tech cities. Gender in
Management: An International Journal, 34(3), pp.188-199.
Kim, S. and Kim, E. J., 2018. Educational Opportunities for Developing Korean Women
Leaders. In Korean Women in Leadership (pp. 99-118). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Opoku, A. and Williams, N., 2019. Second-generation gender bias: An exploratory study of the
women’s leadership gap in a UK construction organisation. International Journal of
Ethics and Systems, 35(1), pp.2-23.
Harrison, R. T. and Leitch, C. M. eds., 2018. Research handbook on entrepreneurship and
leadership. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Online
FEMALE LEADERSHIP: THE IMPACT ON ORGANIZATIONS. 2018. [Online] Available
Through: <https://www.ie.edu/insights/articles/female-leadership-the-impact-on-
organizations/>.
Why Developing leadership skills matters for project management?. 2019. [Online] Available
Through:<https://blog.workep.com/why-developing-leadership-skills-matters-for-
project-management>.
Why Construction industry needs more Women in Leadership?. 2019.[Online] Available
Through: <https://theundercoverrecruiter.com/construction-needs-more-women/>.
15

Appendix
Self-questionnaire form
QUESTIONNAIRE
1.) Are you aware with the role of leadership in construction project
management?
Frequency
 Yes 28
 No 2
2.) What type of challenges normally associated with a construction project? Frequency
 Safety due to high risk factor 8
 Stagnant productivity levels 8
 Shortage of labour 7
 Technology 7
3.) What is the most importance of leadership in construction management? Frequency
 Providing clear vision 15
 Managing risks and controlling quality 8
 Strategical planning 7
4.) Are you agree with the concept that female talent makes headway in
leadership?
Frequency
 Yes 18
 No 12
5.) What are the main qualities that a woman has possessed that makes them
able to perform leaders' role in construction project?
Frequency
 Effective communication skills 9
 Collaborative abilities 8
 Creative and innovative skills 8
16

 Better problem skills 5
6.) What type of challenges female leaders face in managing the construction
project?
Frequency
 Discrimination 12
 Less support of associated people 8
 Associated high risk factor 10
7.) Which area need to be concerned more by associated members of
construction industry to enhance female leadership?
Frequency
 Change in exiting stereotype 10
 Improvement in organisation culture 10
 Minimising the discrimination 10
8.) What are the main benefits of placing women on leadership position in
construction management?
Frequency
 Increasing creativity and innovation 11
 Improving quality of project 8
 Meeting the deadline of project 11
9.) Provide recommendation for improving and enhancing women's
leadership position in construction industry …
17