LEMT305 Leadership Case Study: Ethney Gentry's Leadership Dilemma

This case study examines Ethney Gentry's experience as a woman entering a male-dominated oil company and the leadership challenges she faces. After a discouraging meeting with the company's first female manager, Alexis Bale, Ethney grapples with whether to compromise her values to succeed. The analysis explores the prevalence of male-dominated cultures and the strategies women employ to gain acceptance. The solution discusses how Ethney could conduct herself professionally, emphasizing the importance of proving her abilities and earning respect. It also addresses whether women should adopt strategies that deviate from their true personalities, concluding that authenticity and ethical conduct are paramount. The study references works on corporate social responsibility, workplace diversity, and women leaders in male-dominated societies.

TRUE TO MYSELF
LEADERSHIP IN BUSINESS

INTRODUCTION OF THE CASE STUDY
• Ethney Gentry is offered with the opportunity to
work for one of the oil companies
• The company has been managed by men
• She hopes to become a successful manager
• She meets Alexis Bale, the first female manager of
the company

• She is left with a state of despair after the meeting
• Her hopes were crushed by the insinuations of
Alexis
• Ethney is in dilemma now
• She is confused whether to maintain her working
standards or to sell out her morals

ANALYSIS OF THE CASE
• In today’s workforce Woman find themselves in
similar condition
• Managing the businesses has always been thought
to be the responsibilities of male (Carroll 2015)
• Although, with the advancement in every things,
things are perceived differently in modern days
• It is believed that woman could play certain part in
organisations

• Still, man thinks that management must not be one
of them in any ways
• Alexis has also given certain ideas in which Etheny
could lower herself to meet with the standards of
men
• Despite being emotionally and physically revolted
by her own actions, Alexis did the thing she felt
necessary to appease the men in the organisation
• She even changed her name so that it would not
sound feminine

CASE STUDY QUESTION 1
1. If you were Ethney, how would you try to conduct
yourself at the oil company? Why do you think your
approach would be successful?

• I would have conducted myself in the professional
manner as it is expected, female or male.
• I feel that when an individual enters into a new job
into a new company, he or she must prove
themselves to the fellow workers.

The believe that my conduct would be successful
because-
I think if I am respectful enough and
would take some time to prove myself and my
ability along with allowing my team members to
attain my respect for both the males and females
in the company within the expected time would be
really successful.

CASE STUDY QUESTION 2
2. Do you think male-dominated cultures like this
one still exist? Do you think women have to plot a
strategy to be accepted? Would you adopt a strategy
in which you acted differently from your normal
personality? Why?

Women are still being dominated in some of the
corporate companies. They are still considered to
be the ones who are not supposed to hold the
managerial position and to be in charge of men
(Kim, Lee and Kim 2015).

I think women have to plot a strategy to be accepted
and to be recognised as the more eligible and talented
ones. Like, by
1. Being specific about the problems of the
company and the work related issues
2. Conducting meetings where they would voice
their ideas, collaborate with each other and listen to
the ideas and thoughts of each member efficiently
(Moreno and McLean 2016).
3. Adapting the nature for achieving competitive
advantage over the male characteristics.

No, I would not adopt any strategy in which I acted
differently from my normal personality because I
do not consider to cheat anyone in any way. It
would be against my personal ethics. I would like
to be accepted and respected in the way I am, and I
want to earn that by being true to myself and my
team members.

REFERENCES
• Carroll, A.B., 2015. Corporate social
responsibility. Organizational dynamics, 44(2), pp.87-
96.
• Kim, H.K., Lee, U.H. and Kim, Y.H., 2015. The effect of
workplace diversity management in a highly male-
dominated culture. Career Development
International, 20(3), pp.259-272.
• Moreno, P. and McLean, G.N., 2016. Women leaders in a
predominantly male-dominated society:
Mexico. Advances in Developing Human
Resources, 18(2), pp.152-168.

THANK YOU