The purpose of this research was to investigate how women in senior management positions combine a successful career and family life. The research was conducted in Austria, Denmark and the UK, and qualitative data was collected via a series of semi-structured interviews. Through this research different types of support, including women’s priorities and values, as well as their abilities have been discussed with the aim to find out how they manage their work-life balance. Additionally, interactions between professional and private life have been considered in order to explore if there is a connection between work-life balance and work performance.
The research findings indicated that there are some historical and cultural problems as well as individual circumstances which make it difficult to combine work and family life. Women manage their time effectively and organise everything, but managing multiple roles is a complex challenge, which requires sophisticated solutions. Women need support from their family; help from their partners and companies’ flexibility are identified as the most important things to reach a satisfactory work-life balance. Additionally, childcare has to be provided by the government or organised privately so that women can focus on their careers.
This study concluded that women have to invest considerable personal resources, such as time and energy in order to achieve a satisfactory work-life balance through their career life cycle. In addition, evidence suggested that a satisfied work-life balance has a positive impact on work performance. Further research recommendations have been given as well as a pragmatic self-generated model.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1. Justification
1.2. Objectives
1.3. Outline
2. Literature Review
2.1. Background
Women’s Roles since the 1950s
Family Models
Division of Household
2.2. Individuals
Work-Life Conflict
Career Life Cycle
Critical Resources
2.3. Organisations
Work-Life Programmes
Flexible Working
2.4. Social Policies
Work-Life Policies
Progression in Europe
2.5. Chapter Summary
3. Research Design
3.1. Research Methodology
3.2. Research Philosophy and Approach
3.3. Research Strategy
3.4. Research Process
3.5. Ethical Issues
3.6. Chapter Summary
4. Findings
4.1. Meaning of Work-Life Balance
4.2. Managing the Balance
Challenges
Services
Childcare
Division of Childcare and Household
4.3. Working and Motherhood
Agreements
Reasons
Feelings
Working Performance
Advantages for Employers
Leader versus Manager
4.4. Personal Values
4.5. Chapter Summary
5. Discussion
5.1. Family Models
5.2. Companies
5.3. Childcare
5.4. Individuals and Management
5.5. Chapter Summary
6. Recommendations
Reflection
Research Objectives and Core Themes
The primary research objective is to investigate how women in senior management positions within Austria, Denmark, and the UK successfully navigate the intersection of career advancement and family commitments. The study seeks to identify key challenges, evaluate the impact of various support systems (family, organizational, governmental), and explore the correlation between a satisfactory work-life balance and job performance.
- Analysis of work-life conflict and individual coping strategies.
- Evaluation of company-provided flexibility and family-friendly policies.
- Comparative assessment of governmental support and childcare systems.
- Exploration of personal values and priority setting among female executives.
- Development of a pragmatic model for achieving sustainable work-life balance.
Excerpt from the Book
Managing the Balance
Leaving children in someone else’s hands was identified as the biggest challenge for mothers.
It is one of the most challenging and emotional experiences that mothers can go through, having to leave her child, even it is for a view hours (Joanne, England).
All women responded that it was a very emotional situation when they had to leave their children with others, but they argued that after a while they accepted it and it became normal. Secondly, managing unexpected happenings such as illness was also another highlighted difficulty. Therefore, it is important to be flexible and spontaneous in order to overcome such a situation. Moreover, a lack of public childcare such as short opening hours, and no childcare during the summer months were problems identified by Austrian and English interviewees. Danish women did not mention these problems; they were only worried about ’closing days’ of the childcare providers, which could happen at certain points in the year. Additionally, the logistic to bring and pick up children from childcare or kindergarten, go to work and do the shopping is challenging. Hence, the more closely situated these locations are to each other, the easier it is to organise.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter establishes the research context, defining the challenge of balancing professional executive roles with personal family life in three specific European countries.
2. Literature Review: An examination of existing theories regarding women's roles, family models, work-life conflict, and the role of organizational and social policies in mitigating these pressures.
3. Research Design: A detailed breakdown of the qualitative methodology, emphasizing the use of semi-structured interviews and an interpretive approach to gather personal narratives from female managers.
4. Findings: Presentation of empirical data collected from interviews, focusing on participants' definitions of balance, the challenges of working motherhood, and the organizational advantages of supporting employees.
5. Discussion: Synthesis of the research findings in relation to established literature, discussing the efficacy of different national and company-level support structures.
6. Recommendations: Practical advice for organizations to foster family-friendly cultures and for individuals to utilize a "3 Principles" model to maintain long-term balance.
Keywords
Work-life balance, female executives, leadership positions, Austria, Denmark, UK, semi-structured interviews, dual-earner model, work-life conflict, childcare, flexible working, career life cycle, personal resources, gender equality, organizational culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research examines how female executives and senior managers in Austria, Denmark, and the UK reconcile the competing demands of high-level professional careers and private family commitments.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The central themes include the evolution of family models, the impact of organizational flexibility, the role of government-provided childcare, and the personal resources (time, energy, support networks) required for balance.
What is the primary research question?
The central question is: "How can women in senior management positions combine a successful career and family life?"
Which scientific methodology does the author employ?
The study utilizes a qualitative, interpretive research approach, incorporating semi-structured interviews with fifteen female participants to derive insights and develop a pragmatic model.
What topics does the main body address?
The main body evaluates literature on the work-family interface, details the research design, presents interview findings regarding personal challenges and organizational support, and discusses these results in a comparative European context.
Which keywords define the work?
Key terms include work-life balance, dual-earner model, career life cycle, childcare, flexible working, and organizational culture.
How do Danish childcare policies compare to those in the UK and Austria?
The study highlights Denmark as a pioneer with a well-developed, public-sector childcare system, whereas in Austria and the UK, childcare is often treated more as a private responsibility or is less integrated into public infrastructure.
What unique model does the author propose?
The author introduces the "3 Principles" model—comprising Health, Relationships, and Management—as a framework for maintaining a stable, long-term work-life balance across different life stages.
Do female leaders face different challenges than managers?
Yes, the study suggests that while leadership provides greater autonomy and flexibility, it also carries higher levels of responsibility and visibility, making it more difficult to disengage from professional duties.
What role does the husband play in these households?
The research concludes that the active involvement of the husband in childcare and domestic duties is a critical success factor for working mothers in all three countries studied.
- Citar trabajo
- Viktoria Flechl (Autor), 2009, Work Life Balance - A comparative Study of Women in Senior Management Positions in Austria, Denmark and Great Britain, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/144433
